Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    8/10/2015

    Me and my boyfriend went here on a Friday night for date night. First thing I noticed: it was packed! However, we were still seated quickly which I appreciated. Next thing I noticed: it was incredibly loud. Me and my BF found it difficult to even talk from across the table, since it was so loud. If you enjoy a more lively, louder crowd, this place it great. If you enjoy a quitter, more intimate/romantic place, skip this restaurant.

    Moving on the service, our waiter explained the menu and then disappeared for about 20mins, we eventually asked a busboy to find him and bring him back because we were staving and ready to order!

    The great thing was, once we finally ordered, our food and drinks arrived in less than 10 minutes! The sangria was excellent, it's prepared very traditionally and was an excellent complement to the meal. Next, the food. We had three tapas. It was difficult to choose because everything in the menu looked great! The tapas range from about $8-$13, I found these prices reasonable for the quality of the food (although don't expect large portions, it's tapas, after all).

    The calamari was very good! Not the best I've ever had, but it was fresh and delicious. Next we had pinchos de pollo, grilled chicken on a stick served with saffron rice and caramelized onions. This was excellent. It reminded me of food I had in Puerto Rico it tasted incredibly fresh, we both loved this dish. Lastly we had grilled octopus served over sliced potatoes. I would avoid this dish. The potatoes has literally no seasoning or sauce whatsoever, making the dish very bland. Even though the octopus still seemed fresh, the overall taste of the dish was super disappointing, especially when compared to the quality of the other two dishes.

    Overall, it was fun to try a tapas place and the quality of ingredients at this restaurant is top notch. If you do decide to visit, make sure to get the sangria and be prepared for a routy crowd!

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/16/2015
    1 check-in

    I was looking forward to having a great dining experience here and after having dined at other tapas bars in the city I was expecting a lot from this highly ranked restaurant.

    The sangría is very smooth and some of the dishes are fantastic, but something about being crammed into a room full of people on a weekday evening makes the meal a bit less enjoyable. The server was fantastic, he was attentive and helpful, but the ambiance of the place does not compare to other places. I was content with my food but the whole experience at Ibérico did not live up to the hype about it. Maybe next time. Maybe I'll get better seating and choose a new set of dishes.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/7/2015
    1 check-in

    If anyone hasn't had Spanish Tapas before, I really suggest going to this place because of the abundance of dishes available. Veggie dishes are very limited but I really liked the idea of hot and cold tapas along with entrees with chicken/seafood and desserts. The place was jam-packed on a thursday evening (but it was long weekend). The service was a little slow but decent. We ordered the patatas bravas as appetizer, chicken empanada and veggie empanada and cazula de pollo( chicken drumsticks with potatoes).

    The patatas bravas was spicy potatoes -  they were really good. The empanadas were soo big enough to share among two people as an appetizer. Chicken empanada was good and heard veggie one was good.

    FYI: Entree had just one veggie option. So my friend ordered one more empanada. The drumstick with potatoes were soo heavy - there were 6 pcs of chicken that was good and potatoes were pretty much same as bravas. Heavy stuff :)

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/29/2015

    This place was recommended to me by a friend. The duck, shrimp, and paella is by far my favorites. Great Spanish food and definitely one of my go to places when I visit Chicago! The sangria is also really really good! Not too sweet, but also not bitter.

    If you're not paying attention, you can easily miss it. My sister, my aunt, and myself walked around a couple of times before we figured out that was the place. Maybe it was our lack of direction in that moment...

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/24/2015
    1 check-in

    I went here with a bunch of coworkers the other night and were easily accommodated. The servers were friendly and attentive. The food was absolutely delicious. Every plate that came out was better and better. The sangria was great too.

    Loved it!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/28/2015

    I've been to Cafe Ba-ba-reeba and Cafe Iberico.  Both of them similar with some slight differences.  Cafe Babareeba is definitely trendier and better for date night. Cafe Iberico is more affordable and much larger so it can accomodate big groups.  I choose which restaurant depending on the type of night and group I'm going with.  

    First time - went on a date. The edm music was UNTZ-UNTZ-UNTZ.. not that conducive for talking at normal levels.  The environment in general just isn't as fun or trendy so I preferred date night at Cafe ba-ba-reeba.  However, Cafe Iberico was easier on my date's wallet :D
    Second time - went with my family. It was great for seating a big group, definitely made the dinner affordable with so many people and the edm masked the kid's annoying banter. Winning!

    Food (stand outs):
    - baked goat cheese: you wonder why baked cheese would be so special but it just is.  
    - Spanish potato salad: i love potatoes so this just hit the spot
    - pulpo a la plancha (octopus): delicious
    - potato and leek soup: light but smokey and flavorful.
    - patata bravas: nice chunky flavorful potatoes.

    Food (skip!):
    - paella: i'm sorry. I'm sad too. I'm all about paella and the flavor was there.. but everyone in my group agreed it tastes like they use Uncle Ben quality type of rice. It was round and chewey and totally mucks up the entire taste of this dish.  

    Tips:
    - You don't need to make a reservation unless you want to sit in a specific area. They have plentiful upstair seating but it's not as fun of an environment

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/19/2015
    1 check-in

    Can't go wrong with this place. Plenty of seating in main and upper levels with good food.

    Paella dishes are about $14-15 and will fill you up. My other favorite dish is their goat cheese and tomato sauce served with garlic roasted bread. You cannot go wrong with the goat cheese dish (not the salad!).

    They also usually feature some sort of drink special so those are fun to take advantage of.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/28/2015
    1 check-in

    Came here with a girlfriend to try out Spanish food. We were running out of food categories to try, so here we are.  

    First up: sangria! White sangria was the way we decided to start our night.  Get s pitcher of sangria to share is better than getting a cup each. Most people go for the red, but we decided to go for the white. White sangria tasted more refreshing and sweeter than the red. Depending on how you want to start the night... long you wanna last for the night... you can choose your color of sangria accordingly.

    Grill lamb with potato and grill fennel: recommended by the waiter and off the menu, it was declines! The lamb was juicy and tender even though we got it in medium. The fennel was sweet and tender. The potato had perfect amount of seasoning... Yummolicious is the way to describe this dish.

    Seafood Paella: make sure you order this right away as you decide on other dishes. It takes about 40 minutes for this dish to cook. It's amazing both the rice and the seafood are cooked perfectly. The rice tender but not soggy while the seafood were not overcooked and chewy.

    Dessert - strawberry crepe: omg so good and so deliciously. The strawberry was fresh made i think. The sourness and tartness of the strawberry goes perfectly with the sweetness of the ice-creme. A must get dessert.

    Tip: gets extremely pack around 7:30, so make reservation ahead of time or come early!

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/13/2015

    Why have I never reviewed this place, I've been here MANY times over the years. This is a place that's good for a big group. When you get the inevitable giant bill, it's not a big deal to split it, as you are probably dining on shared tapas. Reasonable prices, and the sangria keeps flowin'. It's gotten a little big, but if you are looking for a racous, loud, relatively authentic Spanish experience, this is probably a good choice.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/7/2015

    Like the paellas; the tapas are good. The restaurant gets very busy and loud; the last couple of times I went, they didn't have music playing which made the noise very noticeable. One time I went there the table wasn't very stable, we had to use a lot of napkins to stabilize it. I went there few times, I don't prefer to go there. If you're craving paellas/tapas and prefer to stay in the RiverNorth/Gold Coast areas, then you can check out this place, other wise I don't recommend. You won't get anything unique or special at this place, every thing is about average including environment, food, and customer service.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/2/2015
    1 check-in

    Good tapas place down in river north, I'll be back soon for sure.

    If you've been to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, that's what I'll compare Iberico against. To start, if you're flying solo, the bar seems pretty cool. They have smaller tapas fit for a single person, given the portions of the normal tapas, this might not be a bad idea if you're with a small group looking to try a bunch of different stuff.

    The quality/presentation wasn't as good as Ba Ba Reeba, but overall, we really enjoyed our orders! The portions are pretty big for tapas, our group did not leave hungry (7 tapas between 3 people). I'd recommend the scallops and garlic shrimp, the shrimp were our favorites by far! We also really enjoyed the beef and chicken skewers.

    We ordered all tapas right away, not realizing how fast everything would come out from the kitchen. Our table was packed immediately. I would highly recommend spacing it out, only placing a few orders in at a time.

    Overall, great time, good food, decent service. I look forward to heading back soon.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/20/2015
    1 check-in

    Awesome food as always. They have quick service, good sangria and yummy food. We got the garlic shrimp, tilapia with beans and Rapini, chicken brasa, lamb and chicken pixtos. All the dishes were delicious.
    A highly recommended place

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/23/2015 Updated review
    3 check-ins

    Years later I decided to give it another try and the experience was equally bad. The vegetarian soup came out cold, like it had been prepared the night before.

    The menu has nothing else gluten free, even their patatas bravas they said uses wheat in the sauce.

    My bf had the empanada and didn't like it much. He was picking out the raisins from the filling. It was also an open pastry, hard to slice and eat, compared to the closed end empanada we were used to.

    I'm surprised this place is always busy but being the only sit down in the 'hood, I can see why they've never had to focus on quality.

    2.0 star rating
    2/5/2009 Previous review
    Went here last night with an old college friend because we've both being hearing about this place… Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    12/9/2014
    1 check-in

    It was our last night in Chicago and we wanted to end it with another amazing restaurant. This place happened to be just around the corner from the Hyatt we were staying at.

    We probably ordered about 6 different plates and to be completely honest I don't remember the name of any of them. All you need to know is that all of the dishes we ordered were amazing and authentic. I spent a little time in Spain and this is the closest I've found the States to authentic tapas.

    Our waiter was on point and very attentive, our glasses were never empty and he was around if we needed anything.

    The desserts are also amazing, we ordered the choco flan, arroz con leche and regular flan. I love me some arroz con leche and it took me back to the days I spent in Spain.

    I highly recommend this place to anyone who lives anywhere near this place. I'm so jealous you Chicagoans have such a plethora of amazing restaurants.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/2/2015
    1 check-in

    This was a lovely place to eat and drink. The tapas was diverse and delicious. The sangria and wine were great and priced very well (by the bottle and pitcher at least).

    I was in town for business and my colleagues scheduled this dinner which included about 22 of us. I know normally this restaurant does not take reservations but upon our arrival it was nice that they prepared a table for us. Maybe it has to be a very large group or I'm not sure what exactly got us an actual reservation but glad we did.

    We had many tapas including many names that have slipped my mind. The first one we had was a bread with a tomato like spread on top that sat on slices of bruschetta and a slide of cheese which was my absolute favorite of the night. It was so good we ordered another round of it. We also got a toasted cheese dish which was good. It had bread with something green spread on it and you spread the toasted cheese that sat in a pool of a red tomato sauce on top of the bread. I am a fan of all things cheese. We also ordered octopus that was cooked well. The omelette we ordered came in the form that I liken to a slice of cake. It was layered in a wedge shape with potato, egg, cheese and some herbs. It was very good and even when it cooled off it still tasted great. I typically can't stand cold eggs.

    The atmosphere of this restaurant was another big win in my books because there was not a high volume of restaurant noise which made for an amazing night of real conversations that didn't require us to scream over each other. The staff was very polite and attentive.

    I would come back for more.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/12/2015
    1 check-in

    A mix of solid and mediocre dishes at this restaurant. Dishes I would definitely re-order are:

    #1 Datiles con Jamon (dates stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in Spanish ham; served with rice and raisins)
    I could use more goat cheese in the dates but that's a personal preferences (I'm a huge cheese lover). What I absolutely LOVE about this dish is the rice+raisins. It is subtle, moist and fragrant. Goes perfectly with the dates.

    #2 Paella Iberica (served with seafood, chicken and pork)
    Large portion, so definitely order to share

    Other dishes I've tried but wasn't blown away about:

    - Pulpo a la Plancha (grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil): The octopus is grilled wonderfully but the potatoes don't really work for me. Feels like soggy fries.
    - Salmon Ahumado (smoked salmon with capers and fresh dill cream sauce): This seems like a spinoff from your regular smoked salmon bagel. Doesn't strike me as a particularly Spanish dish but I may be wrong...
    - Champinones a la Plancha (grilled mushrooms with garlic and olive oil): Just very regular mushrooms to me...

    Quick tip: They tend to prepare their dishes really oily so I've gotten into the habit of asking for less oil/butter.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/28/2014
    1 check-in

    Our friend wanted us to check out her favorite tapas place for dinner.  Café Iberico is a large restaurant that had a fun atmosphere with diners ranging from two to a party of 16. Several birthday celebrations this evening.  Our waiter answered some of our questions before we decided to just go for some cold, red sangria. So refreshing.

    We then placed our orders:
    Canelon de Atun, a tuna cannelloni served with a creamy white wine sauce.  This was a cold tapas dish that I felt was ok, since I'm more accustomed to cream sauces being hot.

    Championes a la Plancha. Delicious grilled mushrooms with garlic and olive oil. Could have had another order.

    Pulpo a la Gallega, sliced tender octopus with paprika and olive oil served on top of sliced potatoes. Tasty and the octopus was perfectly cooked as it was not tough.  

    Paella Iberica, with seafood, chicken, pork, and rice baked in its own pan with saffron sauce.  A nice size paella.  Seafood and meat were tender and tasty.  The rice was perfectly cooked.

    Had a great meal and will be back in our next trip to Chicago.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/1/2015
    1 check-in

    I've been coming here a couple of times a year for getting on maybe 20 years. Tonight was disappointing. The service was great, but the kitchen is falling flat.  Flavored that used to astound, now whimper. Dishes are unbalanced, cooked and prepared to be bland, mass production, and uninteresting. Iberico's chef was legend; putting all the competition in place. Now he has become tame and happy with the middle of the road.  I hope that this was just a bad day and not an example of the downfall of a once great restaurant.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/7/2015

    Got the Iberico paella for lunch from a client recently and loved it! Great food and awesome portions

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/24/2015
    4 check-ins

    Love this place! One of my favorite places of all times. My friends and I come here often and the food is great every time.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/27/2015

    For the money, it's so so so soooo good!
    Amongst other things we tried the Pulpo A La Plancha. Oh my! So simply and well executed. It was incredibly delicious!

    The place sent me back to Spain for a little bit. The music awesome. Probably as loud as over there. The food as good (the portions are much larger than in Spain tho!!) and the service was fast.

    A safe solid pick for a fun night out.
    Warning: this ain't a fancy place. But one to go with a group for good times!!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/2/2015

    My sis & I stopped by this place on our trip to Chicago. I loved this place. It took us back to the wonderful memories of our Spain trip.

    The dishes I LOVED !!!!

    Patatas Ali -Oli
    Ensalada De Vegetables
    Pulpo A La Plancha
    Pincho De Solomillo

    The dishes that were OK-

    Queso De Cabra
    Caldo Gallego ( this soup is supposed to be vegetarian but we found very small bones & specks of meat )
    Veg paella ( a lil too salty for my taste)

    We also ordered a pitcher of red sangria. It was nice. The white sangria is supposed to be sweeter.... But I prefer red.
    They also had complimentary bread & olive oil. We sat at the bar & our bartender was super duper friendly & sweet.
    This place comes closest to the tapas I ate at Granada Spain!!!!

    Will definitely be revisiting this place, since a trip to Chicago from Michigan is cheaper than a flight to Spain !!!

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/19/2015

    Cafe iberico is very well known in Chicago for its tapas. Not really sure why it's so popular however.
    It's average at best. There are so many other amazing tapas places in the city or in surrounding suburbs.

    It takes about a good 45 mins to an hour just to get seated. It takes another 30-40 mins to get your food from when you place the order. Then it takes about a good 15-20 mins to get your check after you are done with your meal because the server is too busy with all the other tables to notice what's going on. The servers I may add work very hard to put in the orders quickly, but things run slow, because of how crowded they are at all times.

    If you call ahead they let you know that after a certain time you can't make a reservations, you can just walk in and you will have a 20 min wait. What a lie lie lie, they only tell you that so you get to the restaurant tsk tsk, not nice.

    You walk into what should be their bar area, but because they are so incredibly crowded it's more of a waiting area while your table is ready in what feels like forever.

    The floors in the lobby area are just gross. They are old, have dirty on them, the grout is ancient and filthy, they should really consider looking at rehabbing the place to look up to date and clean. It's not very appetizing to see that.

    The parking is ok, you might have to drive around a few times if you are parking yourself, but they do have valet, or you can pay a premium for parking lots in the area.

    Let's talk about the food. It's not as authentic as I would have hoped.
    The rice is rice-a-roni, it definitely tastes like it's from a box.
    The chicken isn't exactly tasty like other places. I'm not even sure that it's marinated with anything as it tasted like it was just sautéed.

    The presentation of the food is nice, but it lacks in flavor or it just tastes weird, nothing special and a little skeptical of some flavors.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/16/2015
    1 check-in
    Listed in Chicago, Illinois

    My husband found this place when doing his Chicago-eats research and it was on his list to try.  From reviews we heard this place gets pretty busy and at times it's hard to find a table.  I guess we lucked out because there was no wait upon our arrival and we got a pretty prime table for two to catch the end of the World Cup in June.  The place was pretty bumpin because of this - and it was the mid-afternoon.

    We weren't hungry, but just wanted to try it out so we just ordered the potatoes (fries) and grilled octopus and the seafood paella.  The octopus was a nice surprise as it's served on a wooden platter with cut up octopus pieces that were not chewy and pretty easy to eat!  We enjoyed it with ketchup even though it might have been a sin.  

    The seafood paella came a little bit later because it takes longer to cook.  I found that it was pretty salty.  Like borderline send it back salty.  The saving grace was that we were given bread so I just ate the paella with the bread and kinda picked off the top.  Flavour was good, just too much salt.  Service was fine - nothing too special.

    Good place to catch a big game as they opened up their projector screen for the patrons to watch from.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/28/2015
    1 check-in

    This place is not my favorite, but I'll still go there if friends want to meet up.  I don't want to say bad things about them, I just feel I've been to better places when it comes to food and drinks.
    I've been here many times, always expecting to be "wowed" by them, but always leave with the same impression that things could've been better.  Sometimes I think that food is blend, sometimes it's is too salty, sometimes too oily.  Ordered a caipirinha and the bartender smashed the lime in a way that the bitterness comes out of the skin. When it happens the drink does not taste good.
    Sangrias are not the best either.
    The only really good thing I've had so far was some bottled beer from Spain they have.  Light, tasty, good beer.

  • 1.0 star rating
    2/11/2015
    1 check-in

    I was going to give this place two stars is because it could feasibly be fun with a group of people and if you're really drunk and don't care about what you're eating, but I want to hold myself to higher standards. I gave this place a second chance because my boyfriend's boss was raving about it, even though I had no distinctly fond memories, except of the octopus.

    I want to preface my qualifications to judge this "authentic" food with the fact that I've had tapas in Spain and also I have taste buds. First off, it's like they recently discovered salt and a deep fryer and can't get enough of it. "Papas" just means french fries in which they hide the relatively yummy (though overcooked) morsels of octopus which I was really excited about. The mussels had clearly not been cleaned so I got complimentary sand with that dish. The "patatas bravas" were over cooked & dry & boring. I don't even remember the clams, so that tells you all about that. We didn't order the paella because my boyfriend is allergic to shrimp and I had gotten it during my last visit and OD'ed on sodium.

    The sangria was a very sad excuse for what is normally a glorious beverage. The only fruit in it was orange and apple (that I could tell) which was mush, indistinguishable from canned fruit.

    I don't want to be overly harsh. Clearly this place has a fantastic fan following and, sure, it's fun and reasonably priced. But would I eat here again? No. Next time I'm craving tapas I'm going to pay (a lot) more for some authentic Spanish food and fresh sangria.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/6/2015
    1 check-in

    I had never tried authentic Spanish food before and realized that I'm not a big fan of the food. I'm sure Cafe Iberico is great if you're into Spanish food.

    The restaurant was clean, busy, and had a fun atmosphere. Unfortunately, it was so dark in the corner where my group was seated that we all had to use the flashlights on our phones to read the menu. It was weird.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/19/2014
    1 check-in

    I went for lunch during the week with 2 family members who were visiting from out of town. I love tapas and they've never had them, so I wanted to give this place a shot (since my favorite tapas place isn't open for lunch during the week.)

    Overpriced for the portion sizes and the menu is REALLY limited compared to Ba-Ba-Reeba. The white sangria didn't have much flavor and I was disappointed that they didn't have different flavors. The patatas bravas were really good and spicy as other reviewers have said, but nothing else wowed me. Three of us shared the potatoes, ham wrapped dates, some kind of beef with onions and french fries (odd? The beef was awesome but the fries were terrible and the onions were so-so), and ham croquettes.  I had one glass of not so great sangria and everyone else had water. Our bill was almost $50. We ate lots of bread with olive oil to get filled up. If people love the food here, I can't imagine how blown away they would be by Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba because it is 1000 times better!!!

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/10/2015
    1 check-in

    Have you been to Tapas Valencia in South Loop? Cafe Iberico might have been five stars years ago, however I feel like they still are busy because people don't know any better. The restaurant must be riding on these coattails.

    The food was good, however in comparison to other Tapas joints, it just fell below the standards they have set.  Portions are not large for price, quality of food was so so...

    I would come back here, but only if it was extremely convenient. Even then, a few extra miles to Tapas Valencia will still be worth it.

  • 1.0 star rating
    8/7/2015

    Alert: our credit card was skimmed by staff here. We have used this card twice this year so the theft was easy to trace. It happens and I do not entirely blame the restaurant. BUT when we called to report it the manager was less than interested and seemed confused by the entire matter. She said the owner would get back to us. That never happened. Well, your waiter and his friend got gas, shoes and haircuts. Food and drink were great, as always - but I will never return.

  • 1.0 star rating
    6/9/2015

    As a chef, I try to be fair to restaurants. Nothing is worse than having someone who doesn't understand food, or quality food, complaining unfairly. For full disclosure, I own a restaurant myself about 75 miles from Chicago. I have no axe to grind with this review. I just ask those who review me to be fair.
    Cafe Iberico takes the name of arguably the most revered ham in the world. The demand for it and prices for Pata Negra certainly reflect its highly sought after status.

    Now to my objective review: I ordered the Jamon with Tomato Bread and Manchego. It was delicious however, it was not Iberico.
    Next was the dates stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in ham. The dates were delicious but there are two glaring problems:
    1) again not Iberico ham?!?!? What the heck man?
    2) this is advertised as a Spanish Tapas restaurant and the dish came with CONVERTED rice?!???
    It was bland and the texture was mushy and it should have never been in an appetizer at this $$$!
    Seriously, what self respecting culinary artist would put converted rice on a plate?? Amateur.

    Next was the Cafe Iberico Paella. I was afraid to hope but here it was again, converted bland, yet somehow salty, converted rice with no saffron flavor and completely the wrong texture.

    How the hell could anyone out out this tourist trap food? You should be ashamed of yourselves.
    Have some damn pride.
    The worst $120 I've ever spent. Please do not waste your money.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/6/2015
    1 check-in

    Love the food here. With friends and had several small plates, including chorizo, mussels, salmon, vegetarian paella, mushrooms. Good service too.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/30/2014
    1 check-in

    This is a great place for a group of people to share some tapas.  We were a large group so we kind of split into smaller groups to split dishes while ordering.  Then we passed the left overs around to anyone who was still hungry.

    The patatas bravas were excellent and spicy.  Just the way I like it.  We also had some goat baked goat cheese with basil and pesto spread which was yummy and I would definitely recommend.  We also got a larger plate of seafood paella.  This was pretty good and a large portion. We had a couple of other dishes that I can't remember, but nothing that i didn't like.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/15/2015

    These tapas aren't small. These were almost 1/3 of an a entrée size. So beware of that. The wine selection from Spain was excellent and I really enjoyed the very dry red wines myself. Best foods:  seafood paella, octopus and the grilled squid. Oh yeah, the spicy potatoes were surprisingly great! The seating was excellent and the service was spot on.

  • 1.0 star rating
    4/25/2015

    I was sooo disappointed with the food. We ordered the patatas bravas, garlic shrimp, goat cheese with tomato basil sauce, steamed mussels with marinara, and paella iberico. Everything was mediocre at best, except the paella. The paella was horrible. It was undercooked, poorly seasoned, and a bit watery. We took a few bites and gave up. I think any tapas restaurant worth its salt should be able to make paella properly. Extremely disappointed. Will not be going back to this restaurant.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/17/2015

    Great spot love the tapas & the crowd but heres a reminder to everyone my first time here for my birthday 4yrs ago i had the snail i had the runs for 2months before going to the hospital so dont do escargo

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/28/2014
    1 check-in

    I really really enjoyed my time here.

    Atmosphere is fun and lively- kinda on the loud side.

    I would say their sangarias are killer! I could barely finish one glass- not that I am entirely complaining.

    Also, the tapas are very good! They have a great variety of dishes ranging from different meats, hot and cold; you're sure to find something you will like!

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/29/2015

    ONE WORD "AMAZING"

    Not pricey
    Good atmosphere
    Amazing Sangria
    Food is delicious

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/6/2015
    1 check-in

    Delicious food and beautiful ambience.  Yummiest tapas I've ever had.  Must go back for the sangria!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/2/2014

    Another birthday dinner here too - and with little to no coordination we pulled off a pretty diverse free for all ordering spree without going overboard!

    We ended up with two orders of paella (one with sausage, the other with seafood), pitchers of red sangria, potatoes (patatas bravas), shrimp with garlic, scallops, fish, steak...covering all our bases.  I don't remember which dish might've come with some grilled vegetables but those were by far the weakest part of the meal.

    Anyway, the food and portions were good and the sangria was delicious.  The birthday girl got a nice dessert gift from the kitchen as well which was entertaining enough for me to solidly put four stars on this review.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 2.0 star rating
    6/9/2015

    Ok so this place has great ratings on yelp so I made a point of going there during my last trip to Chicago last week. I have to say I was not impressed.  The food was OK, nothing amazing at all. It is a casual place. I got the seafood Paella and it was just really OK.  The shrimp with garlic was good but again nothing too amazing. But the worst part is the smell of the place. When you first walk in there is a horrible smell in the hallway. Really not good at all. Thank god the dinning area did not smell but the front entrance smell was horrible. Not sure why but I will not be returning.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/26/2014
    1 check-in

    Sadly, I couldn't take photos of the food that we ordered. What can I say, the group was hungry.

    I came here for a birthday dinner, so there was a large group of us. 15 of us, to be exact. So we ordered something like 21 dishes! Again, I've waited too long to write my review, so I can't remember a lot of what we ordered.

    I remember the paella being quite spectacular, so if it's just a few of you coming for a meal, make sure to order the paella STAT! It takes a while to make, so you have to order it right at the beginning.

    I'm sorry that I can't give more than 3 stars, because I feel like the dishes weren't that outstanding that anything really stood out in my mind. Plus, I don't know if it was because we had a large group, but it took SO long for them to come around to collect the bill after it was dropped off. I think we all settled it within 2 minutes, and it was just sitting there waiting to be collected. I had to get up and find the guy. I mean, don't you wanna get paid???

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/1/2014
    1 check-in

    Iberico!

    Let me echo Yvonne's original review in that Iberico is loud, and it is crowded. It also looks incredibly trashy at the entrance if you're walking in through the bar. Service is also crap, as anyone other than your waiter will not be helpful.  On that basis, I almost wanted to walk out before I actually sat at my table.

    With that said, let's get to how such a crap place manages to garner such a positive review: The food. The food here is very, very faithful to Spanish tapas, and I don't mean the generic stuff. They also have one significant addition: their potatoes are actually spicy, which is unlike Spain - where spicy is basically "added pepper". All in all I found the Tapas here to be delicious and well worth their value, as well as being well prepared and freshly cooked.

    The ambiance kinda sucked in addition to having random techno playing while eating (which amuses me), but the food is worth the trip.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/14/2014

    Great place for a group celebration. Nothing fancy but lots of options and extremely affordable.

    I had the patatas bravas which were super spicy, olives which were pretty basic, mushrooms which were amazing, They were my favorite - coated in lots of olive oil and garlic - delicious, baked goat cheese that came with toasted bread with a basil/pesto like spread - also very good. The goat cheese was nice and creamy. A few of us split the seafood paella which was also nice. I wish it had more pieces of seafood but the flavor was definitely there. Sangria was pretty good as was the dessert of sauteed banana in caramel sauce with vanilla ice cream.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/13/2014 Updated review

    Since its expansion, it's been so much easier to get into this place. It used to be so crowded and the lines used to be out of control-- but now they've bought the place next door and expanded into some upstairs seating and now I never really have to wait.

    Very traditional tapas, great for groups and for dates, this place is one of my favorites (it really has nothing to do with the fact that I lived practically next door, I swear).

    Sangria is great and they have an extensive pintxos menu. I do think Cafe Ba Ba Reeba has better quality tapas, but the menu is smaller and its harder to get into (and park around there). Cafe Iberico definitely can satisfy my tapas cravings.

    3.0 star rating
    6/25/2010 Previous review
    Just went again after awhile... remembered how much this place is hit or miss :)

    I didn't like it so…
    Read more
    2.0 star rating
    11/5/2008 Previous review
    I know that this place is supposed to be great- but honestly, I just wasn't that amazed by it. I say… Read more
  • 5.0 star rating
    3/18/2015

    I am just impressed with Cafe Iberico! I have been there a number of times over the last 10 yers and the food and service was always wonderful and consistent. This last time we went we took friends of ours. This time around we had our toddlers with us. Despite the fact that we had two messy little ones with us, the service was even more impressive. Every staff member we came in contact with was extremely accommodating and helpful.
    The food is just amazing! We always order the seafood paella, goat cheese with tomato sauce, steak with fries, garlic mushrooms and spicy potatoes. All those dishes are as good as Spanish tapas get.  
    It is true, they do get pretty busy at night, but that only proves how good they are at what they do. So, make sure to make your reservation, or if going with little ones, go earlier in the evening.
    I highly recommend it!!!!

  • 1.0 star rating
    8/21/2014
    1 check-in

    Sorry this place was OVER rated...Maybe I was expecting something else but this was not a good tapas place.
    Sangria was like drinking sugar water....
    The Food was all super bland and boring OR 100% over the top on garlic.

    Seriously I was more than let down by this place.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/25/2014
    1 check-in

    My wife picked this spot and I decided to try it for my birthday weekend and it was a great decision because the food and service was excellent!

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/23/2015
    1 check-in

    This tapas place was okay. The only plates I actually liked from here were the Veggie Paella and the bacon wrapped dates. The pastas bravas were very disappointing. I would go again if someone invited me but I wouldn't make my own plans to go back otherwise.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/12/2014
    1 check-in

    I'd been here before. As per my previous yelp tip, the seafood paella and (red wine) sangria are what lured me back. This time around though, they sat our party of 4 upstairs. I have to say this is my biggest complaint about our experience, because at 7 pm on a Friday night, we were shouting at each other over the thumpingly loud music and other diners.

    So instead of using our mouths to talk, we set out instead to stuff them with baked goat cheese, ensalada de pollo, raxo adobado, paella, and one dish on special featuring fried mussels (yum!). Only the raxo adobado would I recommend passing on for an alternative. The sangria was just as good the second time around - though nothing beats Dominicks of Ann Arbor.

    Prices overall are pretty fair, not too pricey. I will also say I actually appreciate the no reservation policy to keep this restaurant as a good last minute dining option. If you're in the mood for tapas, cafe iberico is a solid choice.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/8/2014
    1 check-in

    Wow, just...WOW

    Was visiting my brother in Chicago, and he said we should definitely checkout this place to fulfill our seafood cravings. Growing up in the Midwest my entire life, I pretty much lost faith in getting good seafood at decent prices in the area. But after my visit to this place, I stand corrected.

    Not only were all the seafood dishes fresh, and amazingly flavored, the wine selection they have to complement the dishes is even more amazing. The sangrias especially, you just cannot come here without having at least one serving of it! Everything is cooked to near perfection, without fail.

    Waiters were very responsive and attentive. Very nice atmosphere, and it does have a separate bar with TVs for sporting events. Definitely worth your time and money

  • 1.0 star rating
    2/13/2015

    We were a group of 8 people out for dinner and we decided to go to Cafe Iberico. Boy, was that a wrong decision!

    Things started going southwards when we were served stacked quarter-plates, and upon picking half of them, we stumbled upon one plate that was completely unwashed! On complaining to the waiter, he seemed completely unapologetic about it, but did replace the plates with a new set immediately.

    The food was ok; nothing great. When we ordered desserts, one dish came with a bug on top! This time, we called someone wearing a different colored shirt, hoping that was the manager. He came to our table and after hearing about the insect in the dish, took it away only to return a minute later with the same dish on a new plate. When we mentioned that its the same dish, he said something about "The bug was on top, not inside the dish!"

    A couple of us, then left the table to find the manager. We found him near the entrance and mentioned the 2 events that had happened. Again, the manager seemed completely unapologetic, like these things are common and we shouldn't really be complaining about it. However, he did immediately mention that he'll take the dessert off the bill.

    Did we expect this kind of service in a popular place downtown Chicago? Absolutely not! More shocking was the reaction of the staff! Needless to say, this is one place off my list for good!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/4/2014
    1 check-in

    Café Iberico is a great place to take a group looking for a wide selection of tapas over lunch.

    We came here for a coworkers birthday, so mostly we took time to unwind. But I did my best to note the various small plates that were coming across, and the ones I did catch were very good. I'm noting the ones I can remember below:

    Jamon Iberico, a.k.a. everyone's favorite Iberian ham and manchego cheese combination. The manchego was good, with a bit less bite than I remember. Likewise, I don't think anything beats actually eating this cut of ham in Spain. But the tomato bread was excellent; almost like a tomato jelly spread over the slices of bread.

    Patatas Bravas - One of the "must haves" here. Potatoes in a hot, thick sauce. More than a dash of cayenne. The potatoes were one of my favorite dishes.

    Pulpo a la Gallega (Octopus, Galician style) - my favorite small plate. The octopus was sliced thin, briny and remarkably tender. Likewise with the thin-sliced potato. This is a very simple plate, which is what I felt made it work the best.

    Calamares Fritos - decent battered and fried calamari. The tomato sauce was decent. Otherwise it was what you would expect.

    We also split a couple of pitchers of sangria, which here is made with apples and lemons. I'm not a sangria fan but thought it was OK.

    Overall, not a bad reflection of Spanish cuisine. I'd be happy to go back.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/19/2015

    Nothing about this place is great, but I always leave having had a good time and without any real complaints.  Iberico is definitely better with a big group.  Just order a ton of tapas and a few pitchers of sangria and enjoy.  Funny thing, it seems like I always walk out fat, dumb and happy for around $25.  Now, I always chip in extra 'cause I definitely end up with more than my share of food, but even so this place is a pretty good deal for what you get.  Re: the food, I have never had any real complaints about how anything was prepared.  If I didn't like something, it was because I didn't like what it was, not how it was done.  Service is good, they do well picking up dirty plates, filling waters, being handy for the next round of tapas.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/13/2014

    Awesome tapas.  Seafood tapas are done right!  Don't let the look of the venue fool you.  The food was actually very good.  Also, provides great value granted they have different sized tapas.  Would love to try out the endless menu again, its just too much to try in one sitting.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/8/2015

    First time having tapas and apparently this is the place to go. Loved everything I had, goat cheese and garlic shrimp where the highlights. Sangria was fresh and not too strong. The atmosphere was warm and family style. Will be back for sure.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/20/2015

    Omg I love coming here with my friends.  We order sangria with fresh fruit delicious.  I alway order lamb and octopus.  I have ordered the paella but it takes 45min to get to your table it is worth the wait is delicious the rice is cook evenly.  I think this is a great place to chat, eat, and enjoy good spirits.  I also like the muscles in garlic sauce not bad at all.  The prices are not expensive for all the food you get and remember this are tapas not small at all.  The servers are always friendly.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/9/2015
    Listed in Fave Chicago Eats

    Like a well-oiled machine that spits out the most amazingness on a plate.... and in a glass (cuz that's some crazy good sangria!)

    From the professional upbeat staff, to the decor, ambiance, cleanliness, to food & drink... I don' t know that there was room for improvement anywhere (except maybe my date... kidding!)

    I had an incredible salad and the paella was amazing- we had some type of custard for dessert, and pitchers of amazing sangria flow like water.  

    Cafe Iberico will surely not disappoint- I will be back!

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/19/2015

    The reason for 2 stars is that I love the food but I have been there prob 5 times and 4/5 times the waiter/waitress was horrible!! Very slow, don't know the menu really well and also our food took forever.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/18/2015

    Love love love this place. It is so neat how the tapas are all brought out in the dish they were cooked in. Love the white sangria. Great place for a light or heavy bite. The staff is always very accommodating.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/16/2015

    Fine Spanish tapas with an excellent wait staff and fine dinning rooms.... Been coming here yearly for the past 11 years... Simply the best tapas ....

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/30/2014
    2 check-ins

    I've always loved Cafe Iberico. It has good, well priced tapas, the wine is affordable and of good quality and their sangria is delicious.  I came here today with a group of 6 and the drinks and the tapas didn't disappoint. My go to's are the pulpo (octopus), Gambas, the bacon wrapped dates, and the potato salad (all of them are good).  Today we also tried the lamb special, the mussels and the patatas bravas and all held up to our standards. I think that's impressive considering I had tapas for every meal in Barcelona a few months ago.

    I would have given this place 4 stars had it not been for their paella.  What makes Paella is how it's cooked- it is typically prepared  so that the rice is a little crunchy.  The paella here tastes like normal, soft rice with seafood and peas mixed in. I would definitely skip the paella overall since the rice makes the dish.  

    Go for the tapas and sangria.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/26/2015

    I'd been twice a decade ago and it was much better. This time there was a really strong, musty smell that permeated the place and frankly made it hard to enjoy the food.  Sad, because this has previously been my favorite place to eat in Chicago.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/25/2014
    2 check-ins

    Came here and really enjoyed the experience!  Our waiter was fantastic (and really cute ha).  First off, their sangria is amazing... we had the red wine one and it was perfect- looking forward to trying the white next time.  In terms of food, It's small plates style so great for coming with a group of people and trying a bunch of items.  For my roommate and I we had 3 plates and that was the perfect amount.   We started off with the chicken & ham bites and those were tasty, but unfortunately I tasted more of the fried part than actual chicken or ham.  Then moved onto the vegetable plate, which was a good assortment of grilled veggies (squash, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, etc).  We ended with the pork loin with fries, the pork was sliced thin and had a lot of flavor.

    In terms of the venue, this place is HUGE.  There are various areas of the restaurant that you can sit in, we happened to be upstairs this time which was nice and a little quieter than downstairs.  I'm giving 4 stars because the food was good, but didn't blow me away.  Service was 5 stars though.  Will be coming back to try some other dishes!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/18/2015

    Have been here several times in a variety of situations. This place has saved me more than once where I mistakenly did not make a reservation on a weekend night for dinner and the churn got us a table within 15/20 minutes.

    Generally speaking, I am a fan of this place - it's authentic tapas, fast/solid service, in a fun/upbeat environment.

    A few notable items: patatas bravas which is jam packed with flavor, datiles con jamon, red wine sangria, and grilled mushrooms. I also thought the empanada is delicious and fairly sizable.

    Even though spanish food is meat heavy - this place also provides enough options for vegetarians which is a plus.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/17/2014
    1 check-in

    My boyfriend and I came here on a date. I arrived early and was seated but wasn't even offered water while I wait. So service wasn't great.

    We ordered calamari, garlic potatoes, grilled shrimp and beef skewers. The food was fair. I felt like the flavors were off. I expected the shrimp to be buttery but it was spicy. The garlic potatoes I thought were really bad but for some reason I assumed they'd be like mashed potatoes. They were more of a potato salad. I dislike mayonnaise so I hated dish but my boyfriend said it was fair.

    The menu (book) is pretty unappealing. They could use an update.

    Overall it was fine but not great.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/22/2014
    Listed in Party Time!

    I came here for my birthday dinner with a bunch of girlfriends on a Sunday night since Café Iberico only takes reservations for parties of 6 or more on Sundays-Thursdays or from noon-3 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. We started off the night with 2 pitchers of sangria - 1 white and 1 red and I much preferred the white one because it was more refreshing and fruity. For food, we decided to order jamon iberico (ham), gambas al ajillo (shrimp), pulpo a la plancha (octopus), vieiras a la plancha (grilled sea scallops), and the paella iberica. Everything was so delicious with my favorites being the scallops and shrimp! The saffron sauce that came with the scallops was great mixed with the rice and scallops and I loved the marinade of the shrimp. For my birthday dessert, they gave me a free platano al caramel and it came out in a very X-rated arrangement, which my friends and I found hilarious (1 banana, 2 scoops of ice cream - you get the picture).

    Overall, it was a fun and yummy birthday dinner and I would definitely recommend Café Iberico for get togethers if you go during the week or don't mind not being able to make reservations on the weekend. Definitely will be back to try other dishes that I was too full to try last time!

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/30/2015

    I ordered takeout emañada for a special occasion.  The girl on the phone was completely unable to explain or understand my order. When i got there 45 minute later to pick them up, what I saw was completely not what I ordered.  And they were not ready.  I cancelled my order and had to go to a deli to pick up a substitute for my party.   I hope the takeout phone-order person can be trained better in the future so that customers don't leave empty handed and disappointed like I did

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/29/2014
    2 check-ins

    Cafe Iberico has graciously hosted our large group of 20 or more when we celebrate the end of the residency year every June.  I've gone every year since I graduated from our residency program in 2008.  We usually go around 4:30pm on a Thursday, so it's still early and not as crowded.  Of course, we all just order a bunch of small plates and share.  The price ends up reasonable even with a large party.

    Everything is good here, but the dishes that I love the most are the garlic potatoes, spicy potatoes in tomato sauce, the baked goat cheese (the bread it comes with to dip is toasted and yummy), the grilled squid and the grilled shrimp, the grilled mushrooms, and the steamed mussels.  Even though I'm not a fan of scallops, the grilled scallops with saffron sauce was delicious.  We usually don't order the paella since it takes a while to make, but I remember it being good when we did order it.  Also we usually don't order dessert since everyone is full by then, but the servers have allowed us to bring our own celebratory sheet cake in the past.

    This year we had a smaller group than usual, making for a more intimate setting.  The TVs in the restaurant were also broadcasting the World Cup, which was exciting.  Can't wait for next year Café Iberico!

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/30/2015

    Decent food. Ordered the seafood paella, octopus tapas and bacon wrapped dates, which were all tasty but nothing incredible. Service was helpful and attentive. Also lots of wine to choose from is a plus!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/8/2013
    1 check-in
    Listed in Chi-town

    Chi-town doesn't have a shortage of  tapas restaurants to choose from, but he chose Cafe Iberico due to its proximity to our hotel.

    It was our first night in the windy city so let's start this vacay on a grand note! A pitcher of strong, cold sangria please! ;-) aaahhh

    I immediately relaxed at this family-friendly establishment: cute wine bottles adorn the walls (and ceiling!) near the windows, servers are on point and friendly, the food is VERY affordable and that's what tapas style dining is about. Prices range from $4 - $10 for small plates and paella dishes start at $15.  (Prices in SF for the paella alone would be around $25!)

    We devoured a simple house salad (coz ya need veggies!), jamon iberico with manchego cheese and tomato bread, seafood paella with lots of shrimp, clams and mussels. The only dish we didn't like was the octopus with french fries. (It was hard to even put a dent on that dish because it was so oily!) Dessert made us feel a lot better after that octoFAIL.  The flan de caramel was soft, silky and not too sweet.

    Great choice if you're in the neighborhood. Salud!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/7/2015

    Food was good, although the tapas' portions were too large (which defeats the purpose as tapas bars are fun when you want to try many different dishes). The ambiance is loud, which makes the place ideal for larger groups, less for date night. Service was good (tapas come out very quick so you could have a quick dinner). Final bill was higher than I expected.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/21/2014

    I was feeling paella and after reading positive reviews on Yelp, I decided to try Cafe Iberico. It was a freezing winter day and I just came back from the airport.  I was very flustered, yet the people at the front desk were very kind & accommodating and let me leave my suitcase behind the counter as I went to eat with my friend.  

    It's a very homey comfortable and warm environment. I thought the paella was fairly bland, but the other tapas was fantastic. Seafood is phenomenal and flavor is exquisite. By far, my favorite dish is the mejillones a la marinera.

    I've gone back multiple times to try new dishes and they never fail to please me. Ask your server which dish he'd recommend. Definitely a place to bring my girlfriends and explore the tasteful adventurous side.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/19/2014

    A nice little spot to get some Tapas.

    The dates are to die for. Don't even get me started on the pitchers of Sangria.

    Come here with some friends and order a bunch of small plates, enjoy the sangria and chat the night away. a nice laid back sort of feel.

    Everything here is yummy. Fo yourself a favor and go here.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/18/2014
    1 check-in

    Went tonight and I will be back!  

    Recommend
    - red sangria
    - banana dessert

    We got a chicken dish and a beef skewers , both tapas. They were both really good as well!

    The beef came with French fries and they were perfectly seasoned.

    We came at 7 and there were still a few empty tables!

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/2/2015

    Came here after a quick visit to Chicago and I loved the food. Had the scallops and the chicken satay hot tapas and they were really good. Topped it up with the red sangria which added more flavor to the dish. Nice atmosphere, good staff and good food. Oh and the prices are quite affordable. Yup I will be visiting this place next time I am in Chicago.
    Thanks

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/2/2015

    I love this place! I go every year with my sisters and cousins (girls night out) wish I could go more often but its quit a drive.  Everything from the atmosphere to the sangria is GREAT! I've tried just about everything on the menu. Favorites are patatas bravas and the grilled octopus!!! Overall, check this place out if you love tapas! BTW place gets packed on Fridays and weekends!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/31/2014
    2 check-ins

    Seriously, who doesn't like this place? This is one of my favorite places to go as a group before a night out, just catching up or even during the day for lunch. There is always something on menu for just about anybody. Yes, even picky eaters! Maybe not vegans, but you get my point.   They can easily set up tables for large groups and easily accommodate them too!

    The food is absolutely delicious! It is nice when you have a large group or picky eaters since you can order several dishes to accommodate your dinner party. However, place is suppose to be tapas, but lets be honest some plates can be an entire meal. My favorite go-to dishes there is the garlic potato salad, the goat cheese baked in marinara sauce, iberico ham and of course their sangria . This potato salad is oh so creamy, garlicky, and even more garlicky! I do recommend brushing your teeth after this or your breath will be able to ward off vampires easily. The goat cheese baked in marinara is just amazeballs! It is savory, salty and strong tasting that you spread on your bread...you will probably eat all the bread with this and  forget you are watching your carbs! I know, I know sangria isn't a dish...but for many people, including myself, sangria can be its own meal. I love their sangria here. Grab a pitcher or two for a group! Not too sweet and definitely
    kills the time while waiting for your table.

    So why the four stars and not five? Easy, the place can get very loud with the techno music at night. There are music videos on all of the TVs playing.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/15/2014

    Great atmosphere for meeting friends for dinner and drinks. The tapas are perfect for sharing, especially for those who like to try a little bit of everything without having to order large portions. The baked goat cheese is my favorite and is the best I've ever tasted.  A half or while pitcher of Sangria is a must. Early dining is recommended since it's fill up quickly.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/3/2015

    Came for lunch and had a salad, the potato omelette and a rabbit special.  Tasty food, fair prices, nice atmosphere and good service.  We'd come back.  I noticed that they had a reasonably priced wine selection as well so might be worth checking out for dinner.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    12/11/2013

    I love this place for their food.  It's a tapas restaurant, where everything is meant to be shared.  My two favorite dishes are the  PULPO A LA PLANCHA (grilled octopus with potatos) and the PAELLA MARINERA (seafood dish).  They're known for the paella, so I highly recommend you make this one of your main dishes.  I went with my vegetarian friend and she had many options to choose from that we both enjoyed.

    My only complaint would be the service.  Our waiter was inattentive, so we just waived people down whenever we needed something.  They also sat every guest in the restaurant in one half of a cramped room, which made you long for a table on the other side.  It was a Sunday night, so the place wasn't overly busy, by any means.  They could have at least spread the guests out a little more, as it was incredibly loud and cramped.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/16/2015

    Went in on a Saturday evening around 10, so finding a seat was no trouble at all. We started off with a pitcher of red sangria, which was pretty good, although I'm used to sangria that has a little brandy in it. We had the baked goat cheese as a starter, and the sauce was simple and flavorful, the way it's supposed to be. I had a special, a grilled skewer of lamb, cooked medium rare, once again, the way I requested it; it was served with Israeli couscous, and everything was delicious. I had a perfectly decent Manhattan for after dinner, and I tried a little of my date's flan, which was spot on and not too sweet. Overall, the atmosphere was a little louder than I prefer, and my date almost got trampled by a drunken bride to be at her bachelorette's party, but that's no fault of the restaurant.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/17/2015

    Everything i have ordered has been great Lamb chops mussels goat cheese chicken skewers!!!!
    must try and very affordable

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/16/2015

    This is one of my favorite tapas places. The prices and portions are great. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything on the menu, try everything! You can also get $5 pitchers of sangria. The atmosphere is friendly, lively and the service is awesome.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/14/2014
    1 check-in

    Got grilled sea scallops- scallops were cooked well, but basically just tasted like butter and couldn't taste other flavors.

    The mushrooms tapa was good and made of 3 different mushrooms. Had a little spice kick to them.

    The goat cheese and tomato sauce was a nice appetizer-like dish, but the bread was too toasted. Nothing extraordinary.

    Good thing is the tapas are larger in size compared to other Spanish restaurants I've tried.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/20/2015

    This was my first authentic Spanish food experience and I am not a fan. I asked for the gluten free menu and options are very very limited. The restaurant is nice and has a very upbeat atmosphere however the food does not match it. We ordered the red sangria and it was good, the fresh fruit in it was very delightful. We ordered 6 different food items of which I could only try one since the rest were not gluten free and I was not impressed. The chicken was dry with no flavor and the rice tasted like the instant rice out of a box. Now being fair,  I've never had Spanish food so they could be getting everything right and maybe my taste buds just don't like Spanish food. The wait staff was very welcoming so that was a big plus.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/12/2014
    1 check-in

    Cafe Iberico is nice option for reasonably priced tapas in Chicago. The place is huuge, the only thing bigger in size is the menu. A little overwhelming, especially since it is packed with loud people and loud music. The ambiance is really bad, kind of run-down.  Cafe Iberico desperately needs a makeover. This is why I'm giving three stars instead of four.

    If you know about the noise level, crowd and bad ambiance ahead of time, you'll be fine. I did not know what I was getting into and was caught off guard. The food for the most part is good. I really liked the octopus and loved the mussels. The sangria is like any other tapas place: iced, watery wine with a few fruit chunks. It's not fancy, but it's fun and refreshing. They also have one of my favorite desserts--caramel banana!

    I'd go back if I was in the neighborhood and in the right mood. It's definitely not a place to relax and enjoy a quiet meal, but great if you want a lively night out with friends.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/7/2015

    I honestly thought their food was just ok.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/18/2015

    No complaints. Easy to get a table, fast excellent service, and enormous tapas list. Had a nice grilled veggie plate and various Spanish sausages. Friends had the mussels and octopus and pronounced them excellent. Good wine and sherry list. Can get crowded and noisy but in a good way.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/23/2014
    1 check-in

    Service was fantastic. Server was able to recommend top tapas that are popular. Loud atmosphere but it was very friendly, not very intimate (don't bring a first date here). The goat cheese with Mariana sauce and pesto crisps is delicious, and the grilled salmon with artichokes and green peas (seasonal special) was out of this world!!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/15/2015

    Although the place was super noisy (it was a wknd, what do you expect!?) the food was great. Sangria was a bit watery but good overall. Best slow roasted lamb I ever ate. We had other entrees as well (just cant recall the names) but they were awesome too. I highly recommend this place.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/20/2014
    2 check-ins

    Always enjoy my visits to Iberico! Favorites include the patatas bravas, croquetas, and anything with shrimp. You really can't miss... just be prepared to have to choose between primarily seafood items.

    Everytime I have friends in town, I try to take them here. Show up, and be treated to some bread and olive oil, and refreshing sangria. Take your time, and order only a few tapas at a time, or if you're in a big group, get started on some of the shareable entrees.

    The one miss I had was the mussels. They were rather large, and not as full-flavored as I've had elsewhere. Take this with a grain of salt however; I am not the biggest fan of the mollusk.

    Lastly, don't let the entrance fool you! It's probably jam-packed, but on approach, all you see is the bar area which might make you think no one's there.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/6/2015

    The quality/authenticity of their food and decor transports me back to the two years I lived in Spain. Seriously. It reminds me of the little bar/cafés in any Spanish town. The croquetas are spot on and their tapas are authentic and not Americanized.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/3/2015

    Amazing meal. Had Paella and mussels.  Portions were big. Very reasonable in price.  Service was good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/10/2015

    Never had anything less than a great meal here, never had anything less than a good time. Not a fan of tapas usually because of high prices and small servings, but they find a good balance of the two here and the dishes are excellent. My only quibble? Couldn't taste a bit of difference between the regular margaritas and the higher priced ones. Torn between a four and a five star rating, so I'll go with four but in my mind think four-and-a-half.

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/23/2014

    Went there for a birthday celebration, had never been before..food was mediocre. EVERYTHING came out SO fast that there was no time to enjoy the meal!  The atmosphere was obnoxious. It was super loud TV blaring with crappy music and the place looked run down- you'd think they would be able to afford some nice booths(with all of these rave reviews) AT LEAST to make your dining experience a little more comfortable.
    Won't be going back

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/25/2014
    2 check-ins

    Holy tapas galore!

    As a firm believer of sharing is caring, Café Iberico is the perfect restaurant to put that mantra to work.

    You will not find any $15 tapas plates that has just enough food to feed a new born baby here.
    Instead, you will find extremely reasonably priced plates ($8-12) consisting of authentic, Spanish comfort food that can actually be shared between a large party of people.

    I came to Café Iberico at 6pm on a Saturday with a group of 9, and was shown to our seats in their downstairs section. The upstairs had limited seating, mostly meant for smaller parties and those making a beeline for the bar. The downstairs is much more intimate, and is more accommodating towards large parties.

    Between the 9 of us, we each ordered a plate and 2 pitchers of Sangria.

    The Sangria was nothing special, but the food was great.

    I liked just about everything we got, but my favorites were definitely the grilled mushrooms with garlic and olive oil, beef tenderloin skewer with fries and onions, clams with shallots and parsley, seafood paella (takes a while to make though. ~40 minutes), and sautéed chicken breast with green and black olives.

    But honestly, you can't go wrong with any of their dishes. Do come with a big group so you can all get something different and experience something new.

    Also, the location is awesome! Come stuff yourself after a busy day of shopping.

    Oh, and everything came out to $25/person, which is like the equivalent of one tapas plate anywhere else.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/20/2014
    1 check-in

    It should be noted that tapas are more like small appetizers. That being said, the portions are small & easy to rack up your bill. The queso de cabra was absolutely good and so were the patatas. Croquetas de pollo were tasty, but too bad only 5 were on the plate. I ordered a paella de pollo to go, & the husband liked it except he wasn't impressed with the tiny pieces of chicken that were incorporated. Between my friend & I, we spent $85 on 5 different plates including the sangria. I'd come back to try the other tapas and dessert.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/24/2014

    If you're into tapas or want to be introduced, Cafe Iberico is the place to be. The food is absolutely fantastic and the prices are affordable.

    I really enjoy the goat cheese, seafood paella, calamari, scallops...really, everything.

    Do order the sangria! Some of the best you'll ever have.

    The waiters will get food out to you...but don't expect warm faces if engaging conversation. Better service would make this place a 10 out of 5.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/23/2015
    1 check-in

    The food was pretty good but I'm not a tapas expert so I won't write too much about that. The waiters seemed to have a habit of not knowing which orders go to which tables so remember what you ordered and be sure to check that you got the right bill, too! Otherwise the service was adequate.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/2/2014

    I like Iberico a lot though it's not my favorite Chicago tapas place. That being said the food is good, the sangria (especially the red) is fantastic and the atmosphere is good. If you go with a small group (4 or less), I'd suggest ordering just a couple dishes to share as you go. The food comes out fast and the table can get very crowded if you order a bunch of things at once.
    Highlights for me are the grilled calamari in a garlic sauce and anything with goat cheese! While I don't care for potatoes myself, everyone else always seems to love the patatas bravas. As a heads up, reservations are smart because it is ALWAYS busier than it looks from the outside!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/21/2015

    Great place to be transported to Spain! Love the tapas and the paella iberico. You should tey the sangria too.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/4/2015

    Went there for lunch today, first time tried tapas and really enjoyed it. The dates wrapped in ham was the group favorite. A new and good experience.

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/7/2014

    Over rated , food was very salty service was slow. Menu looked great but there was nothing that stood out. Nice atmosphere

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/19/2015

    I LOVE Cafe Iberico. Food is great, staff is always friendly, and we almost never have to wait. However, I'm taking off two whole stars because it drives me INSANE that they play awful bachata music almost 24/7. It's a Spanish restaurant!!! I want to hear Spanish music!! I swear I would go much more often if they played better music.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/25/2015

    Always a great time with great food. Nights that start here with sangrias is never a bad night!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/17/2014
    1 check-in

    This place needs to be a must visit while in Chicago.  The abundant amount of tapas and plates to choose from remind me of my time in Barcelona.  Authentic dishes that will take your taste buds to a happy place! And the best part was it, it was affordable AND the portions were big compared to most tapas! A must is the grilled octopus with potatoes.. wow that was phenomenal! Can octopus be that tender? It's shocking how good this dish is! Another runner up is the grilled squid.. simple, tasty, and again, super tender! While here I had to get the dates as that is a tapas favorite of mine, but slightly disappointed with this order as it seemed overly sweet and nothing stood out.  Don't forget to sip on your pitcher of sangria in between bites :)

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/14/2014

    Went here with a group of 11 this most recent time, but come here often for lunch for their Ensalada Mixta, a lovely salad with beets, asparagus, red onion, Belgium endive, boiled eggs, avocado & lots of other goodies! Our group ordered what seemed like many dishes and enjoyed lots of sangria and the tab came out to a mere $30 per person. Love that you can try lots of different dishes. The crazy garlicky Patatas Alioli (garlic potato salad) remain a favorite, but the garlic lasts for two days. The sautéed shrimp were yummy as were the dates wrapped in bacon, and of course the  sangria.  The croquettes are yummy as is the skewered meat with carmelized onions and fries. It's a great place for groups.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/23/2014
    1 check-in

    I had long heard of this place, heard of the Sangria, tasty treats, and the excellent service.  I was expecting edible excellence, and they delivered.  Admittedly I went with a few repeat customers who had taken a tour of the menu many times over, so it made things a little easier.  We easily polished off a few pitchers of sangria, a number of menu items, and finished it up with another glass of their finest bevvies.  Service was great, tastes were excellent- and the goat cheese... ohh the goat cheese.  I could eat every ounce they have on site.  So get that!

  • 1.0 star rating
    4/5/2015
    1 check-in

    I've been a customer to Iberico perhaps for about 20 years.  This time I will rate them one star because of an issue that I have been addressing to the waitstaff for years.  You need to fix your soda system and make sure that drinks are carbonated.  My solution a few years ago was simply to bring my own soft drinks but unfortunately this time I didn't since it was an unplanned visit to the restaurant.  I don't think there's a single customer that would enjoy a flat coca cola.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/24/2014
    1 check-in

    I love Cafe iberico. Excellent food and great atmosphere. Red Sangria it's amazing. Thank you!!!!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/24/2014

    The tapas portions are enormous and very well priced. The paella Iberica was enormous and delicious. Their red sangria was on point and so was their service. I would definitely go back!

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/3/2015

    We came to Chicago for a girls weekend and had been here before, but tonight we sat on the bar side and had to suffer through dinner listing to extremely loud DJ music and videos. The ambience was completely ruined as we ate our tough calamari and watched naked ladies strike their beach bodies and run oil on themselves.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/31/2014

    Went here the other night after a disappointing few minutes at a D-Bags-R-Us bar. This place put me and my friends back in a festive weekend mood in minutes!!! The bartender was wonderful, as was the pitcher of white sangria we ordered. Their sangria packs the appropriate wallop! Very tasty.

    Food-wise, we didn't have much (we'd had dinner earlier). The grilled calamari was solid and the plantain dessert was a delicious finishing touch. We loved the atmosphere, which was festive yet comfortable. No one acting like fools or throwing cheesy pickup lines our way. Just a great, fun place. Thanks for turning around our evening!

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/15/2015

    One of my favorite restaurants. Discovered this place on a school field trip for Spanish class and have returned multiple times since then. Everything is well proportioned, beautifully presented and tastes phenomenal. Perfect place to grab a meal with friends but I would recommend a group for four or more to get the best of the tapas experience. Best Spanish food outside of Spain, to be sure!

    Patatas Ali Oli- out of this world!

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/13/2014

    Oh calamity...This one is complicated to write. Food is fabulous, sangrias off the chart, prices very reasonable (especially for the neighborhood).

    Service is crap. I have been going to Cafe Iberco for years and the quality of servers is on a steady decline.

    Last Monday evening the familiar growling in the stomach brought me and my husband to the restaurant. It wasn't crowded yet we were seated between 3 families with children. Great for the romance NOT. We ordered 3 things and a sangria (thank god). The third item came when we were about to leave. Our table was overflowing with plates, bread, and tapas yet no one came to replace our dirty dishes (or replace our water). Our waiter was really quick when it came to collecting the check, though. We were not done eating when he presented us with a bill. We were still not done eating when he collected it. Learn some savoir-vivre.

    Blah.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/4/2015

    Definitely a great place to have a nice evening out. I've been multiple times with friends and family. We always have a fun time. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is laid back, especially sitting at the bar. There is a large variety of yummy options and the drinks are delicious. The staff had always been very friendly and attentive. It's a great restaurant at a great price.

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/5/2014
    1 check-in

    I had a great time here tonight because I was here with some great pals.  The food for me was meh.  I'm on this rant because as a plant eater there has to be a restaurant that can do veggies right.  Make those veggies sing!  I had some cold veggies in a tomato sauce.  They were ok but a little oily.  I had some grilled veggies that maintained a nice crispness, but lacked flavor.  The marinated olives were super flavorful and everyone at my table pilfered them!  The Rioja was dry and full bodied and had a blackberry flavor.  Yes, the wine was excellent.  The food was just ok.  Maybe you'd have better luck here as a meat eater.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/31/2014

    Great Tapa's place in a good location for some food before a night out. Walked in on a Saturday night and was seated right away. Big place, good food and good music. Decor isn't trendy but the ambiance is nice!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/24/2015
    1 check-in

    If you want a delicious and a cheap tapas place, this is it. Their pitcher of red sangria was on point and it was only $19 compared to double the price that you would pay at the rest of the restaurants. The service was impeccable. The only issue I had with the place was with the sound. It was pretty loud, however, if you are with a loud group, it won't make a difference. Enjoy! :D

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    3/22/2015

    Definitely one of the best spots to watch soccer in Chicago, especially if it's a Spanish team playing. Food is solid, service is fast, atmosphere is friendly, and they have screens everywhere.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/23/2014

    Wow a group of 5 of us came in at 11pm on a Friday and this place was still super packed.

    Everything was amazing. We got the steak which came with fries. Just okay. The steak was kind of sweet because of the onions and I would have preferred to let the meat come through more.

    Chicken with rice and spicy potatoes were amazing. The white sauce and grilled onions go good with anything! Not a huge calamari fan in general but the portion was huge.

    Got the crepe for dessert and it was amazing!!! More than enough for 4 people.

    The sangria pitcher was a little small and the margarita was nothing special.

    Only 26 each spilt between 4 people including tax and tip so not bad at all! Would definitely go back and try out some different dishes. Considering how busy it was at 11pm, I would suggest going at non-peek hours or making a reservation.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/16/2014
    2 check-ins

    Atmosphere: It's a family style restaurant which causes you to share your tapas and sangria.  If you're not the sharing type, I'd stray away but otherwise you should start sharing more.

    When did I go?: Weekday for lunch.

    What did I do?: My party and I ordered about 25 different tapas all of it came relatively quick (or did the sangria speed up time?)

    Go again?: Yes, I would.  I recently was in Spain and this place reminded me of it.  The food comes close to the actual tapas in Spain except for service is much quicker here than it is in Spain.

    Try: Bacon wrapped dates.

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/20/2015

    Everything just seemed off. The waiter was really awkward and kept hovering over the table. We had several things including the bacon wrapped dates, the grilled octopus with fries, and the grilled calamari. Everything was extremely bland. I have never salted any food from a restaurant in my life and I had to add salt to the grilled calamari to even eat it, it was so bland and rubbery. I don't know if this was a just weird experience but something is not quite right at cafe iberico right now.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/20/2015

    What a great Chicago Restaurant, what a great place to take friends and family and dates.  I've been lucky to dine here many times, you have to start out with the sangria and then.....TAPAS and more Tapas and more Tapas.  Such a friendly and open environment upstairs and more intimate downstairs.  Yes you may have to wait for seating on a busy Friday or Saturday night but it's so worth it.

    The calamari, the goat cheese, the garlic potato salad, the shrimp, the paella, its all great!!  Best to share and order plates in between having a great time with friends and drinking sangria ;-)  

    Great spot to watch FOOTBALL/World Cup.

    This place seats nearly 1000 people so its always a party on the weekend nights, please don't nit pick about crumbs, just mention to your server, they will always take care of you.

    Cheers!!!!

  • 1.0 star rating
    7/1/2014

    I'm appalled! So many reviews; such good ratings...
    I went on a weeknight and it was empty. I ordered the better reviewed items: baked goat cheese toasts, grilled calamari, gazpacho... ALL terrible.
    I don't get it. The service, the "ambience", the food; ALL bad.
    What is going on here?

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/18/2015
    1 check-in

    Very authentic Spanish place! From their menu and table setting to their servers and TV channels, you could quickly have an impression of a Spanish restaurant. Cafe Iberico has definitely great Tapas and seafood! With limited price range, the ingredients themselves are average but are surprisingly upgraded by authentic styles and kitchen effort! This place would be your best choice in this part of Chicago if you are looking for inexpensive but quality Spanish food. By the way, their service was impressive as well: all the servers are caring about your table rather than just one! Menu-wise, Gambas Al Ajillo (Grilled shrimps with olive oil, garlic and wine) is wonderful, Seafood Paella is average but big portion, Scallop with Rice is worth-trying for its sauce, Fried Calamaris are well-cooked but would taste much better with better cocktail sauce! Go for Cafe Iberico, foodies!

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/23/2015

    This is truly the best Spanish tapas restaurant . The food is great , absolutely delicious everything, the best paella that worth to wait for, tapas we order potato bravo is great, scallops is great, cheese , everything !! The desert you have to have. My favorite is chocolate flan, and caramel flan is great too. Sangria is perfect.! The service is great! Great place !!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/13/2014
    1 check-in

    I've had tapas only one other time, at Cafe Babareebas, but I am  now a HUGE fan of this place after going with a few girlfriends on a Sunday afternoon.

    PROS:
    - large menu
    - huge restaurant with ample seating
    - conveniently located with on street parking & valet
    - Ridiculously reasonable prices
    - Paella was wonderfully cooked
    - Octopus and potato tapa was outstanding! Tender and delicious.

    CONS:
    - service was a not great... but not bad.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/28/2014
    1 check-in

    My cousins and I loved this place and had a great girls' night here the other night. Cafe Iberico was the perfect respite from the cold wind and rain with its bright interior, Spanish tiled floors, Spanish soundtrack, and of course, pitchers of sangria. Speaking of sangria, it's delicious here! I we split a pitcher between the three of us and it was the perfect amount to warm us all up.
    One of my cousins is vegetarian so we stuck to veggie friendly options so we could all share. We started with the sautéed mushrooms, so amazingly flavorful and perfectly cooked. I loved the classic tortilla español-layered potatoes and veggies and spices cut in a wedge, filling a tasty too. We also got the papas in spicy red sauce, recommended to us by our friendly server. My favorite was the bruschetta with goat cheese and tomato. It was the perfect mix between creamy and crunchy, sweet and salty-love it! You get a lot of bang for you buck here as well. I know some other reviewers were complaining that the tapas were "too big" but I disagree. Value-wise, you get a good amount of food for the price you're paying. I would love to come back to Cafe Iberico, perhaps with a carnivore to try a wider variety of tapas.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/3/2015

    I love love love Cafe Iberico!! Have been coming here for years and the food is always consistent and delicious!! This tapas restaurant is one of my Chicago favorites. Red sangria is delicious; my top choices are grilled octopus with fries, ham and cheese puffs, sautéed shrimp, baked goat cheese and lamb chops. Deserts are to die for. It's always busy, you may wait a bit for your server as they are busy, but it's worth it and the food comes out fast. Valet or street parking.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/20/2015

    My first choice when it comes to Tapas! I never get tired of this place. My bf and I come here whether it's just for appetizers or date night! Service has always been good. It can get crowded at times, but if you like tapas, it's worth it. Pulpo a la plancha is a favorite along with Patatas Bravas and the Mussles in the tomato sauce! I think I'm hungry!! See you at Cafe Iberico :)

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/15/2013

    I love me some tapas. Love. I must say that I am quite impressed with cafe Iberico. A friend of fine and I wanted to go have dinner and drinks. Since we are successful working gals, we decide to wine and dine ourselves. Wine and dine we did indeed. We were seated immediately without a reservation. We sat in the main dining room, apparently they had a Cafe Iberico express in the front part of the restaurant. Kind of like a point and get food selection from a food display. seems like a great concept.

    We ordered the white sangria to get the juices flowing. I loved the taste of it but I felt like it was a bit watered down because of the ice.  We then ordered the Artichoke salad. I am a huge fan of artichoke and I was not disappointed. it is served with fresh artichokes marinated with sherry balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. We then had this combination platter of Spanish sausages, totally yummy with the breads they serve you. I mean how can you hate sausages. All tasted differently, but all very delicious and cooked to perfection. And if you didn't think we were full yet, then you guessed right because we ordered this seafood paella made with shrimp, fish, clams, and other seafood in a special saffron broth. Which was the best dish of the night. The seafood was not over cooked and plentiful. the rice just was so infused with flavor, with a little lemon over it was the icing on the cak.....err-paella.

    Our server was very knowledgeable and attentive. I had a fantastic meal at reasonable prices. Located downtown, parking was surprisingly easy to find a and easy to get to.  Cafe Iberico has an expansive menu that I can't wait to sink my teeth into!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/8/2014

    Sangria and Tapas in/near river north for a good price, sign me up -  we are with it..

    LV and I had dinner here recently and we really enjoyed the atmosphere and more importantly the good food and service.  The somewhat loud atmosphere we enjoy with wine and small plates.

    We had the patas bravas, baked goat cheese, grilled octopus with potatoes, and the seafood paella (as LV really enjoys her paella).  I especially loved the octopus with potatoes - such a good medley and good to perfection.  We ate at GT Fish and Oyster a few nights before (and this octopus was cooked 5 times better) hands down a really good tapas dish.  The paella was really good too - and was a really nice portion.  The goat cheese was rich but was cut nicely with the sauce.

    Sangria was fresh tasting and refreshing as well and I honestly really never drink it - so it was a nice glass of goodness.  In a city where dinners out with drinks can be a little pricey, this was worth every dime and super affordable.

    Will be back soon...

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/23/2014
    1 check-in
    Listed in Chi-Town

    WHAT the HECK. I can't understand how Cafe Iberico has the ratings that it has...

    Prices here are pretty cheap! Sangria pitcher is only $17 and most entrees  are $9-$12. BUT, there is a reason for the price... (like there always is.)

    Food is decent, but does not represent excellent Spanish food. The red sangria had a funky "wet rag" aftertaste. And the $12 paella seems enticing (and was for us), but this is NOT how good paella should be cooked. Where is the crunchy, toasted rice on the pan?! Apparently, it is not part of the meal here. The other dishes, patatas bravas and shrimp, were bland.

    The place is cute and has nice ambiance, but pay to eat good food and nothing less!!! I was quite disappointed, but I was buzzed off the cheap sangria the entire time that this realization did not hit me until I left the restaurant.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/25/2014

    Good, but in my opinion, Cafe Baba-Reeba has better tapas.

    This place is always busy.  I used to come here all of the time, but will be heading up to Halsted, where I can also easily walk to the blues bars after dinner.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/2/2014

    I've been coming to this  taperia for years. I really liked the raciones of the various
    tapas encased at the front bar, described in Eng. and Sp. with real food models. I was lured by the potatoes with garlic, the mushrooms a la plancha and the stuffed olives, I was back in Spain. I topped it off with the yummy chocolate flan in cherry sauce and a
    glass of Rioja white wine. All heavenly! Moderately priced, very delicious. The friendly bartender, Eutiquio, has been there for 12 years. Really cool was the Spanish cooking
    lesson broadcast from TV Espana. Regreso pronto. Vale!

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/13/2015

    This was my second time here. It's been a couple of years and you can tell! It definitely was not the same. Our waiter did his job well but the server kept messing up everyone's plates in the room and the service was just not there. Let's talk about the food... it was extremely bland and all one note! Thank you but no thank you! We couldn't wait to leave. Hope it was just an off day but I'd rather not try it out again.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/3/2014

    Being from Barcelona I am lucky to have tasted many good restaurants with cuisine from the Iberian Peninsula, without doubt Cafe Iberico does a great job. I really enjoyed "el pulpo a la gallega" and "el cordero asado". Thanks for a very good dinner!

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/12/2013
    1 check-in

    Found this place thanks for the chicago yelpers. The place was pretty packed.

    Food: We had 5 people and we ordered about 6 tapas and the paella iberico-  special paella of the restaurant.  I was disappointed  with the paella ..  Very moist and very limited amount on the seafood... the size of the paella, it truly lacked a lot of the seafood.  In addition, the chicken and sausage was too dry and rubbery in the paella.  Ordered the chorizo tapas,  jamon iberico,  Plato mixto, croquetas, mushroom, and calamari tapas.  The best ones were croquetas , plato mixto, jamon iberico and calamari.  The other ones were presented well, but the chorizos were overcooked, and there were any ham in the jamon one.  Anyhow, overall food was okay. 3/5

    Service: it was about 15 min and we had to watch our names on the TV to come up to be seated.  Once we were seated,  we saw the waiter every 15 min.  No refills on water and no checking on us to see if we needed something until we actually called him.  He was pretty mediocre for a buy place with a good population.  His name was Francisco provided such poor quality service.  It was weird how the restaurant couldn't split the check for us. I had to manually calculated all 5 people shares.  2/5

    Atmosphere: 4/5 nice and very well decorated.  It is 3 story place.  It has a nice cozy Hispanic atmosphere.  But the tables were a bit too close.  

    Overall, tapas portion are a bit too big but that is why they were over priced.  It is not your typical tapas style. I would come back to try their other tapas but not paella.  I was just too disappointed because it looked sooo good but it turned out to be very mediocre.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/20/2014

    being a tapas aficionado, the food here is amazing.. but the service..? came here for a dinner at 5:30 on a saturday. walked up to the hostess, and she told me it would just be a few moments to get seated for a table for three, so we stood next to the bar. (side note: the bar is 4 feet away from the host stand.) in walks a family of 4 with 2 small kids, gets told the same thing, then two minutes later they get seated. another family walks in, gets seated right away. so instead of possibly being overlooked AGAIN, i go up to the person at the host stand, who now is a male, and ask him what the hell this chick is doing. he doesn't seem to know either, but finally after being walked up to our table upstairs, i can't help but count every single open effing table.

    i have hosted/served/bartended in my lifetime. hosting correctly is not difficult.

    okay back to food. i love seafood paella. its enough for atleast 3+ people to share, but it also takes 45 minutes to cook so be prepared to wait. i would also recommend the salad with goat cheese for some leafy greens, the baked goat cheese, the grilled sea scallops, grilled squid, and grilled shrimp were all fantastic. lots of flavors and colors. they have a lot of space so its a great place to bring your crew for a fun meal. plus the pitchers of sangria make it even better.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/1/2015

    Lamb Chop with fennel and potatoes cooked in an earthen pot, so delicious. A must have at Cafe Iberico and don't forget their Sangria. The best part of the meal, their desserts. Needless to say one of the best tapas place in the city. They have Ample sitting areas  #chicagofoodhop #cafeiberico

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/10/2015

    Felt as if I were in Spain. Ate at the tapas bar. Food was great. The service was efficient.  Had a time crunch but was able to eat in less than an hour. Will eat there again along with all of the Spainish speaking people present.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/3/2014

    Delicious food! Extremely tasty! Everything was delicious. The best sangria in the world. We had a birthday dinner for 5 and they were very accommodating! The waiter was extremely attentive and personable. It was a bit loud, but it was because it's was a very crowded Friday night! But you must stop and try it!

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/4/2014
    1 check-in

    Maybe I had just heard so much from so many people so I expected a really good time here. I didn't have a horrible time but it was just ok. Nothing special at all.

    We ordered a bunch of tapas. The patatas bravas were great, the goat cheese and sauce was great and the meatballs were great too. We also ordered some paellas. I asked our server to confirm what was in the one I ordered. He said chicken rice and potatoes. Ok, I ordered it.

    It came and had a bunch of veggies, onions, peppers, etc. I was clear about wanting to know what was in it before I ordered it.

    The food was ok, our server was horrible and dry and the sangria was ok. I would much rather go to Cafe Ba Ba Reebas. They have better quality, better sangria, better servers and definitely a much better atmosphere.

    Again, it wasn't horrible but for the same price, I could have a much better time somewhere else.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/9/2013
    1 check-in

    Busy, busy, busy!  That's the only way I can desribe this place on a Saturday night.  My three girlfriends and I arrived at 6:30 on a Saturday.  There is no reservations or call-ahead, so plan accordingly! (And when we left at 8:30, the place was PACKED which also makes it pretty hard to get around!)

    Before I tell you how the tapas are, let me tell you how good the sangria was!  We ordered it by the pitcher (two of them!) so that may or may not have effected how my food tasted.  I couldn't tell you ;)

    We ordered four tapas altogether
    Jamon Iberico--I would give this dish a C.  It was just OK...ham and cheese on a plate.  **shrug**
    Queso De Cabra--Goat Cheese w/ bread.  I would give it a B!
    Croquetas de Pollo--These were like yummy little fried chicken/mozzerella sticks.  I really liked them and would definitely give them an A and order them again!
    Calemaras a la plancha-This is a definite D.  I wouldn't order it again for sure.

    But the sangria was an A.  I am not sure I would be back because a) I've had better tapas elsewhere and b)There are way more places I want to try in the city.  

    But it was a pleasant experience overall, so I can't complain too much!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/9/2014

    We arrived around 5:30pm on a Friday and the restaurant was quiet.  We were quickly seated at a window table even though one of our party had not arrived.

    This is REAL tapas.  Not that Mexican fusiion stuff that so many places claim as tapas.

    We took turns choosing dishes and none were a dissappointment.  The garlic potato salad was GARLICpotatosalad - yum!  The beef tenderloin was delicious and prepared medium rare with carmelized onions.  I really loved the grilled pepper salad.  It came with toasted bread that, while I'm sure was not heart healthy, crispy and buttery.  The grilled calimari was tasty but tough.  Hey, sometimes you get a tough squid!

    The flan was okay but I kind of wish I'd gone with the Creme Brulee - not what it is called in Spanish.

    Service was teriffic.  None of us had alcohol and the server was great about keeping our sodas and iced teas full.  God, I miss wine!!!

    The bill came to $80 plus tip which was very reasonable.  

    I'd go back in a heartbeat.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/10/2014

    This place has the best tapas and sangria in the city of Chicago. The red sangria definitley hits the spot and is paired best with Potatas Bravas and the goat cheese. It is always a zoo in there so be prepared for a long wait. I dont think they have reservations on the weekends. Its a really big place but it still gets so overwhelmingly busy there. I knocked off a few stars because the service is not where it should be. Given that the food is so phenomenal it keeps me coming back but they really need nicer staff. Also just a minor detail, valet got in a huge wreck with my car right in front of me a year ago and the manager of this place was beyond rude when it happened so do yourself a favor and park on your own next time.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/23/2014

    I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE!  From the food, to the staff, to the awesome Sangria, this place is my go to Tapas bar in Chicago!  Yes its loud and crowded but that's Iberico, that's the environment the experience.  The service is great! I never had as much as a hiccup.  The food is always delicious.  The next time I go to Iberico I am definitely going to have to cab it over so that I can have a bunch of the white wine sangria!
    I would recommend this place in a heartbeat.  I would love to go through the whole menu and review every wonderfully delicious thing on there but I say go try it for yourselves!! I hope everyone has a great experience the way I  do every time I go there!
    Iberico go you for being absolutely fabulous!
    -A true fan

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/21/2014

    On a recent visit to Chicago some friends and I were looking for a good spot on a Friday night. Luckily for us, Café Iberico had room to squeeze the 6 of us in.
    We ordered 1 or 2 dishes each, to share around the table. Wow - everything was delicious, really good portion sizes, and very reasonable prices. The sangria was delectable and refreshing (I actually preferred the white sangria even though I'm a red wine drinker, but both were super tasty). One of my friends is a vegetarian and there were plenty of choices for her too.

    We had: ensalada de pimientos asados (roasted peppers), aceitunas alinadas (marinated olives), Patatas Bravas (roasted spicy potatoes), chicken empanada, queso de cabra (goat cheese and tomato sauce), Paella marinara (seafood paella), a scallop dish that was the special, a grilled chicken dish, calamares a la plancha (octopus), manchego stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto, and 3 pitchers of sangria.

    Our total was less than $35 each, including tip, and we were all stuffed! Everything was scrumptious. Definitely get the stuffed dates - so good.

    Highly recommend this place, especially for a group of 5 or more so you can try a bit of everything.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/24/2014

    This is a great place to go with a date or a group of friends. Recently came here for a friend's birthday dinner. We are big eaters and split 9 tapas and 2 pitchers of sangria. Everything was perfectly cooked and delicious. Service was attentive and consistent throughout our meal. I loved all the tapas we ordered, especially the goat cheese dish and the jamon iberico. The restaurant was about half full on a week night, and was a good environment to chat with friends without it being too loud.

    I guess considering this restaurant is in River North, I was expecting a little bit more of a trendier/classier vibe, given it's location. This restaurant is definitely more homey/authentic than Cafe BaBaReeba. I'd have to say I prefer BaBaReeba over Iberico (better/larger menu, more interesting vibe). Also, there is quite a distinct odor when you walk into the front bar area. I'm not sure if this was related to food sitting out in glass display cases, but it smelled faintly of rotten food right when you walk in. I was happy that the main dining room didn't have an odor.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/7/2013

    I came here on two separate occasions within three weeks.

    One cold, windy Sunday evening, I decided to play tour guide and take my from-out-of-the country friend to dinner. We ordered half a pitcher of sangria with white wine, queso de cabra, pulpo a la plancha, and almejas en salsa verde. We loved every dish but I particularly enjoyed the baked goat cheese and clams. The baked goat cheese paired well with the basil sauced bread and complimentary bread. The clams were fresh and enticing. I loved the sauce so much that I even dipped my bread in it. With tip and tax, dinner came within $50.

    My second occasion was for a friend's birthday on a Thursday evening. Our party of five ordered two pitchers of sangria with white wine, avocado and salad dressed with balsamic vinaigrette, pulpo a la plancha, ensalada rusa, croquetas de pollo, gambas al ajillo, raxo adobada, and vieras a la plancha.

    Now in English terms...my favorites were the avocado and salad, octopus with fries, and chicken and ham croquettes. The avocado and octopus are on the softer end of the flavor invasion. The croquettes were melt-in-your-mouth type of good. But I don't think I would've known it was chicken and ham had I not look at the menu. I loved the ali-oli sauce that it came with! My least favorite dish was the raxo (marinated pork loin). The meat was very thinly sliced and pan-fried to cardboard texture. It lacked flavor and the toughness gave my jaws a good work out.  Dinner for five with tip and tax came within $135.

    Service was great: nothing was forgotten, dropped, and/or cancelled. Wait was nearly nonexistent (phew!). Parking was relatively easy. T'was a good choice for dinner.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/6/2015

    Went here with my wife and her work buddies for some sangria and appetizers. Little pricey but worth it. Spanish tapas = nom nom nom. I will definitely go back. The sangria could be a little better but its pretty cheap. lol Great date spot!!! and they have easy valet.

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/13/2014

    You know, people talk about this place as a good spot for a cheap, casual meal. It is both of those things. But, I think I'd prefer to pay a little more and get some better quality food. I don't know how a restaurant could hope to cover all Spanish food in one menu, but they do. And, I'm afraid, they don't quite make the grade. The paella is to be avoided. But, the octopus a la plancha is very good. The tortilla espanola is overcooked (but, that's how Americans usually want it). The place is definitely family friendly, though. I just think there are much better options available.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/30/2014

    Really awesome flavor and a nice atmosphere.  I had the cazuela de carne asada for $13.95.  The meat was nice and tender and came with potatoes and carrots in a great sauce.  Pretty reasonably priced for the amount of food.  The alcohol price seemed average for the area, a $14 double Jack and Coke. I'll be back to try the tapas.

    Only downside was a slight delay in the food coming for half our table.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/27/2014

    Not fresh, not "true" spanish recipes.
    The entrance smells weird and service is not impressive.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/7/2014
    2 check-ins

    I was a tourist who used Yelp to find a great place that was inexpensive. That led me to Café Iberico, and boy was I glad it did. We had a pitcher of sangria, a seafood salad, chorizo and paella. All tasted AMAZING, and came out to about $35. What?? Our waiter was pretty attentive (though he forgot my cup of ice when I asked for it). Overall, very impressed and if I lived in Chicago, that would be my go to place!

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/5/2014
    1 check-in

    Don't see myself returning. Normally I love tapas. But this place does not have a great selection. I didn't find myself wanting to try a bunch of things.

    Service wasn't so hot either.  Waiter was super busy and we waited forever to get his attention to order more.  I mean isn't that the whole point of tapas?? To be able to order as you go? But really can't happen if your waiter never comes by!!

    Actually food we got too was just average. Nothing spectacular... there are better tapas around.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/15/2015

    Group of 8 seated immediately.  Eclectic mix of ages and socioeconomic ranges.  Very busy for a Sunday night.  Sangria is delicious.  Appetizers were delivered with extreme efficiency and quality presentation.  Went the tapas small plate approach with terrific success.  All 4 adults and 4 children were totally satisfied.  Terrific location and a fantastic experience.  Not to be missed.  Refrigerator Perry would be happy with the portions and Jim McMahon would appreciate the full bar.  Sangria to go?????  Can I say YES!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/2/2013
    1 check-in

    Absolutely delicious, I have been here 3 times and always experienced great good, service is ok. Now, I have not picked up the tab (work related trip) so i have not paid attention to the prices but they seem reasonable.

    A few thoughts:
    - Nothing ever compares to food in Spain, and dont try to here in America, but this is fine.
    - It can be loud.
    - it can also be busy around you so it can feel hectic/rushed.

    Update 5/28/15:

    You can't beat a great pulpo, salpicón and a flawless $15 paella for 2. The pulpo here is always on point. I have not had a bad dish here ever. I Love this place.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    5/19/2015

    I live in Dallas and this is one of my favorites in Chicago. This was my second visit there for my bachelorette party. First time, I went for a date night. Each time, the food and service have been excellent. The vegetable paella is delicious and so are the mushrooms and goat cheese tapas. The red and white wine sangrias are equally amazing. We finished 3 pitchers between 5 people this time around. It's worth the wait!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/17/2012
    1 check-in

    Cafe Iberico was planned as our first meal of the day before a long, heated day of sightseeing. We came just minutes after the restaurant was scheduled to open and was pleasantly surprised to see how empty it was. No wait? Fine by me!

    Seafood Bruschetta -- We ordered an appetizer which seemed to be a special, not a regular on the menu. Each lightly toasted crouton had a certain item (seafood or cheese) with a red bell pepper on time and melted cheese. Everything was jiving. I was fortunate enough to get the crouton that had the salmon. Salmon is hard to cook. Definitely wasn't dry. On the fishy side but the melted cheese helped!

    Pollo a la Brasa -- A half-roasted chicken with red mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes was covered in a delicious gravy-like sauce. Very creamy and thick. A great side! We had to fight for the last of it. The chicken was roasted to perfection. Very tender and easy to cut and serve. You also get two pieces of asparagus and a tomato cut in half. Make sure you dip the asparagus in the gravy sauce!

    Paella Marinera -- Iberico has two types of Paella. Option 1: Strictly seafood Option 2: Seafood with meat. A traditional dish made with a distinctly deep pan. Iberico's paella consisted of Spanish rice, shrimp, fish, clams, squid and peas all slowly cooked in a wonderful saffron broth. They give you tons of seafood. Absolutely wonderful! I highly recommend it. This was easily shared amongst 4 starving ladies. WORD TO THE WARNING: ALLOW 30-40 MINUTES. It's slow-cooked people so it's going to take time. It's totally worth the wait!

    Make sure you order their sangria to end the meal! It's very strong. ;)

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/23/2013

    I had high expectations when my friend and I went here for lunch due to her telling me that the line is out the door when you visit for dinner. Sadly, I was incredibly unimpressed. We had 3 plates: potatoes, chorizo, and the squid/octopus plate. All three dishes came out the same temperature - lukewarm. Maybe the squid/octopus plate was meant to be a cold dish, but still. Either you should be cold or you should be warm. Not something in between.

    The saving grace about this restaurant was the staff. They were super friendly and provided great service. I never had to wait long for a dish to come out (although I would assume the paella takes much longer), and the presentations were good. I just wish the food was better.

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/25/2014
    1 check-in

    One big meh. I went here with a big group and we had the basement to ourselves. I ordered a red sangria, which tasted like grape juice and was the weakest sangria I have ever had. Then we had plate after plate of tasteless greasy food. The tiramisu cake was great, but everything else was disappointing. If you want good tapas and amazing sangria go up to Lincoln park to cafe babareeba. It's ridiculously better.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/28/2015
    1 check-in

    Love this place! The food tastes authentic and flavorful. The venue is accommodating for big groups. We came with a group of 9 and everyone ordered something different so we had a chance to try a bit of almost everything on the menu. My favorite was definitely the beef tenderloin skewers.

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/23/2013

    Purple pig had three hour waiting on Friday evening. So we came cafe ilberico as alternative tapas that I was craving for spanish food.

    We had spicy potato, grilled octopus, paella, beef scewed with potato, house salsd and sangria.

    Octopus and beef were good.

    Paella was watery and disappointed.

    Sangria was watery...disappointed.

    Paella supposed to be burned at the bottom....

    Spicy potato was ok. Nothing special jusy spicy sauce.

    Atmosphere is very casual. I don't recommend this place for a romantic dinner..just ok for family dinner for casual night.

    I didn't find service was good other. Pretty chaotic.

    I will not go back to this place.....

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/15/2014
    1 check-in

    This place has one of the best patatas bravas I have ever had. Stay away from their garlic potatoes because they overwhelm it with too much Mayo. The beef skewers are dry and bland. The seafood paella is very well cooked and generously portioned to be shared amongst two.

    Sara's service diagnosis: The servers are nice, but there is a speech barrier. 60% of the time, an incorrect time comes out or an item is just forgotten. Hosts can be a bit friendlier, but overall, a great place for larger groups, first dates and girls night.

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/23/2013 Updated review
    1 check-in

    HA!  I havent been here in years.  I just read my old review and it still is right on the money!

    I find the food to be mediocre at best.  The goat cheese and spicy potatoes are good.  The calamari is decent.  The garlic shrimp is gross.  It is small, fishy shrimp with no flavor.  I usually love shrimp and never let them go to waste.  Here, I left 3/4's of the dish.  Bleh.

    The service is also mediocre.  They just seem like they are super busy all of the time so they dont give you the attention that you need.  No refills on drinks, water, etc.

    I probably wont be back here.  I thought, well its been a long time so lets go and see.  First impression still stands.  :)

    3.0 star rating
    12/3/2009 Previous review
    Disappointment!!!!  I have been wanting to go here for so long and finally went....duh, duh,… Read more
  • 3.0 star rating
    7/2/2014

    My friends and I got dinner at Cafe Iberico for our second round of "tapas Tuesdays" last night.

    It was good, but I'd leave it at that. I'm a huge ba ba reeba fan, and I would venture to say that every dish we ordered is better done at cafe ba ba reeba than at iberico. We ordered white sangria, which definitely didn't live up to expectations.

    On a positive note, I loved the croquetas...melt in your mouth! And the prices were great. Like I said before, nothing we ordered was bad, just not my favorite tapas restaurant ever.

  • 1.0 star rating
    1/1/2015

    My wife and I ordered Cafe Iberico on GrubHub, I wish we didn't .  The food was 45 minutes late, it was cold and was bland.  GrubHub refunded us 50 percent of the bill and waved the delivery fee.  The food was still not worth it. McDonalds would have tasted better than the garbage that Iberico sent to us.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/28/2014

    Not going to lie I was severely disappointed with my visit to Cafe Iberico. I've dined at other tapas restaurants in the city many times and heard good reviews about this place so my girlfriend and I figured we'd give it a try.

    For starters I will say the atmosphere and location of the restaurant was great, although the dining area seemed a bit cramped. We were stuck in a small table in the corner and once the bachlorette party of 15 people arrived right behind us we couldn't even hear ourselves think.  

    As for the food it was definitely below average and well below our expectations. Having visiting other tapas restaurants we knew going in what kind of dishes we would like and what we wanted to try, but after ordering everything there wasn't one single tapas plate we actually enjoyed. The spicy potatoes tastes like they came from a bag of frozen, store bought breakfast potatoes with some sauce from a can poured over the top. The grilled shrimp with garlic was overcooked, and again tasted as though it was frozen. And the stemmed muscles lacked flavor and again freshness. The paella was the only dish we were able to finish, and I think that was mostly from the fact that I was so hungry from not eating anything else that I needed to finally have something.

    The prices were just okay, but for what we got they were not good at all. I tried it once but won't go back again. If you're thinking of the tapas route in Chicago, there's plenty of much better places. I wouldn't come back here.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/7/2015

    The only complaint I can have, is sometimes a little loud (not Mercadito loud, just have to lean in a bit). Love this place! Beef tenderloin skewer is a must for me on every visit.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/19/2013

    It took a minute to get a waiter and he called me sir. However, the food and sangria made up for that. The best calamari I've ever tasted (no oil or grease, the squid wasn't rubbery, just crispy). It was my first time eating paella, I'm creole and it tasted like jambalaya, so it was good but I'm not for sure if that's the taste!

    I got:
    Calamari
    Conch & Shrimp Paella
    (1) glass of red wine sangria
    $28.56

    Great date place or just to chill.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/22/2014

    Luvvv their sangrias! One pitcher is good enough for two. Food is fabulous. We had the seafood salad and roasted chicken. I would definitely come back for more tapas. The only down side is the restaurant located on Ontario,  and valet costs  $14 almost same price as a pitcher of sangrias.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/15/2012

    We had a lovely meal here for a friend's bachelorette/pre-wedding night meal! The restaurant was spacious, the service friendly & fast, and the food good.

    * JAMON IBERICO - 3.5 stars
    yelp.com/biz_photos/café…
    (Spanish style cured ham with manchego cheese and tomato bread)
    The tomato spread was tangy and fresh, the bread's crust had a nice crunch but was quite soggy on top. The cheese & ham were placed separately, under the bread, which made this a little more difficult to share with such a big group.

    * PATATAS BRAVAS - 3 stars
    yelp.com/biz_photos/café…
    (Spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce)
    Pretty tasty, but for all the fanfare around this dish, I was a little underwhelmed. The flavors were strong and savory, not so much spicy. My biggest quip with this dish was that the potatoes were not at all crispy! More like soupy. Not what I think of texture-wise when I think of patatas bravas.

    * Rice with bacon wrapped dates - 4 stars
    yelp.com/biz_photos/café…
    You can pretty much never go wrong when bacon+dates go together. The rice was tasty but a little undercooked and hard.

    * CROQUETAS DE POLLO - 3 stars
    yelp.com/biz_photos/café…
    (Chicken and ham puffs served with ali-oli sauce.)
    A little oily, and the outer breaded layer is a little thin - I like just a little more crunch. I found the filling to really not be much protein, even if it was fairly tasty.

    * CHAMPIÑONES A LA PLANCHA - 3 stars
    yelp.com/biz_photos/café…
    (Grilled mushrooms with garlic and olive oil)
    A solid dish, but I'm just not too big of a fan of pure mushroom - the flavor is so strong that it really is better as a side/addition to something else.

    * GAMBAS AL AJILLO - 3.5 stars
    yelp.com/biz_photos/café…
    (Grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine)
    Garlic-y! Tasty! Crunch! Fresh! P.S. Don't get this if you have any sort of adversity to garlic.

    * QUESO DE CABRA - 4 stars
    yelp.com/biz_photos/café…
    (Baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce)
    So simple, yet I really liked this one. The bread was lightly toasted and had just a hint of a pesto/garlic spread. The warm tomato sauce and cheese tasted great when you added it on top.

    * VIEIRAS A LA PLANCHA - 3.5 stars
    yelp.com/biz_photos/café…
    (Grilled sea scallops with saffron sauce)
    One of the more unique dishes of the night! The scallops were seared lightly, though in my humble opinion could be a tiny bit more on the rare side. The rice was cooked thoroughly (in contrast to the bacon wrapped dates) and soggy, which I actually enjoyed in this saffron sauce!

    * PLATANO AL CARAMELO - 3 stars
    yelp.com/biz_photos/café…
    (Sautéed banana with caramel sauce served with vanilla ice cream)
    Haha - you have to see the picture. Like I said.. bachelorette party. I thought it was hilarious that they would do this for us (or is it standard? I wasn't sure). Not the most unique desserts, but I always like cold+hot components together. The caramelized banana was almost too sweet, even for my major sweet tooth. But this was just fun to eat overall!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/19/2015
    1 check-in

    It has been difficult to find a good Tapas place in Chicago. Not a fan of Cafe Babariba Nor the other Tapas place on Division. My friend took me to this restaurant and I seriously felt like I was back in Madrid having dinner and sangrías! This place is amazing and very responsible prices.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/6/2014
    1 check-in

    The first time I came here was on an art field trip in college. We were a BIG group and the restaurant easily accommodated us. Plus, the tapas style of the restaurant made sharing easy and we all got to try a bunch of different items.

    Since then, I've been back lots of times. I've been with in town friends who have no money. I've been with out of town friends who don't want to spend any money. I've been with my boyfriend, when we have no money. I've been with my sister, because we have no money (do you see the trend here). All of that isn't to say that the only merits of this place are that it's cheap and can hold a lot of people (and this place is huge). However, if you're on a budget, but still want to have a nice time out--go to a restaurant where you can feel like you're spending a good amount of money, but you're not (ha!)--this is a wonderful, solid choice.

    A couple of must haves: Sangria, half pitcher for one, full pitcher for two (ok, not for real, but hey, it's cheap and delicious), queso de cabra (I have a friend who will fight you for this if you go with her), paella (this is really big), and the octopus with potatoes (polpette con papas?). If it's just me and a friend, I usually get a half pitcher (or full pitcher) of Sangria, one of the paellas, and any of the other items. It's plenty of food and delicious. The atmosphere is great for chatting and catching up, too--especially if you get the paella because it takes close to an hour to make.

    I have had one experience when the service was rather poor and really should dock a star for it, but can you really be upset that your waiter never came back with water when you needed it ONE time when this is your go to for just about any guest or first timer to Chicago? I think not. I think I won't. So here you go, Iberico, 5 stars.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/10/2015

    I LOVE Iberico. I go quite often and they never disappoints. I have tried other tapa restaurant and none compare to Iberico. Food is better here, and I love that it is all conveniently priced. Their Sangria is also the BEST.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/28/2015

    By far my favorite Spanish restaurant in the entire world. Everything about this place is amazing. The service is phenomenal, the tapas are always outstanding, and the prices are out of this universe when you consider the location of the restaurant and the ambiance of the place. While my family and I like to try a variety of tapas, our "go-to" tapas are always the same, Pinxo de Pollo (grilled chicken on a skewer) is reserved with rice and caramelized onions that are indeed FANTASTIC. Patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) are always a good choice if you wanna get a kick in your mouth, though they are not too spicy! There are so many other tapas I can go into, but you'll just have to try them for yourself. And of course, you MUST try their "Paellas". That is, if you're not already stuffed from trying all of their amazing tapas!

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/24/2014

    Cafe Iberico is a great place for a birthday celebration or a fun dinner with friends. The sangria flows freely and is delicious, as is every menu item I've ever tried.  (My friend who is Spanish said the food is reasonably authentic.) Among my favorite items: Patatas Bravas, Patata Ali-Oli, Queso de Cabra, and Pincho de Pollo.  I've never had the paella because I always want to save room to taste more small plates, but it looks and smells great as it passes.  

    The prices are also quite reasonable, which is refreshing in the River North neighborhood.  You can eat and drink your fill quite easily for around $30-$40 a person. Much less if you aren't drinking alcohol.  

    The portions are decently sized -- perfect for four people -- so if you want to try a lot of items, I would recommend going with more than just one other person. Plus, this place is so bustling and lively, it's not a great "date night" place.

    Service is great, even when they are slammed. The hosts, bartenders, and servers are always friendly and helpful.    

    The only downside: They only take reservations for parties of 6 or more, and even then, not for weekend evenings. But if you show up on the early side (6:30), you should be able to be seated fairly quickly.  Also, given its location and reputation, there is a pretty big tourist element.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/2/2013

    Being from Miami, it's always interesting tasting Spanish and Latin foods outside of south Florida. However, this little gem in the heart of downtown Chicago delivered great taste, excellent service and nice variations on the traditional Spanish fare.

    Being in the Loop, parking is not easy, but valet service is prompt and at $12, won't break the bank. I suggest getting here early, since it tends to get pretty packed as dinner time rolls on.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/6/2013
    1 check-in

    Lordy this place was crowded.... but it's crowded for a reason!

    Food:
    1. Paella (forgot the exact kind) but it had everything on it: shrimp, clams, etc
    Love their special Paella. There was a good ratio of meat, veggies and rice with a perfect blend of flavors. To my surprise it worked AMAZINGLY well as leftovers!

    2. Patatas Bravas!!! GET THIS!! i saw its description at first, and passed it off but then I tried my friend's dish and it was a match made in HEAVEN. GOSH, I immediately waved down the server and made an order STAT. It's like slowly cooked potatoes with perfectly fried edges on every corner, then it was lightly tossed in a sweet but savory sauce that made my taste buds go wild. :] also worked well when eaten as leftovers.

    I believe this was the first time I had real spanish food and boy, was I impressed! I'll definitely come back in the future when i'm in the city!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/7/2015

    Perfect place to go with a large group of great friends! The food is FANTASTIC!

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/6/2014
    1 check-in

    This is really good! The mussels taste gorgeous and the seafood rice paella is my favorite!!!!!!' Definitely will go there a lot in the future!!!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/18/2012
    1 check-in

    This is the third tapas establishment I have been to in Chicago and would say with little hesitation that it is the best for whatever occasion.  From my limited time visiting Spain, these are the most authentic tapas I have tried in town.

    What I particularly love about Café Iberico is that it is so flexible.  It's perfect for a huge group or date night.  It can be formal or casual.  You can stop in for snacks, a full meal, or just drinks.

    I highly recommend their Patatas Bravas.  Very authentic, very delicious.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/13/2013
    1 check-in

    All I can say is WOW. The food was amazing!! I split the veal sandwich and Café Iberico paella with my boyfriend and we also split a pitcher of the red sangria. Oh maannnnnnnn all of it was delicious! We just sat at the bar, which I actually really enjoyed because we never had to wait to be served and there was a tv right in front of us. Because the bartenders were right in front of us, we got a chance to talk to them. They were all incredibly nice and constantly made sure everything was perfect.

    I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner here and definitely plan on coming back ASAP!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/18/2015

    The food was awesome, very close to the Tapas/Pinxtos we had when we were travelling through spain.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/6/2014

    This has been one of my favorite places for a while now. The red sangria is by far the best sangria I have ever had. The potatoes brava are delicious. The chicken and beef skewers are a must. This place is great for sharing food. The shrimps in olive oil are great too. I've never had a bad time here.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/30/2014

    I discovered this place in 2006 and I was crazy about the food and mostly the red sangria.  I recently went back a few months ago to see that the chefs were not the same and the taste of the food has changed.  I still gave it 4 stars because the food is still good, the sangria is excellent, and the  prices are fantastic.  The food is not as good as before and the portions have shrunk but all in all still a good place to go.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/29/2013
    1 check-in

    My friends and I were craving some tapas and sangria on a warm summer night, and came calling at Cafe Iberico to get our fix!  We arrived a little after 6 on a Wednsday and were seated immediately, in fact we were the only people in our section which felt a bit awkward.  But within 30 minutes people were trickling in and the place was full and bustling by 7.  So don't eat early like a grandma unless you want to be the only people in a quiet restaurant!

    They had about a zillion specials which our server read off a paper and did not explain with tremendous clarity, but maybe that's just because of the white sangria.  Sangria was okay, the fruit didn't impart too much flavor so it was more like wine on ice, but it was still refreshing.  

    We ordered what we thought was a modest amount of food but when the plates came we realized that this isn't your ordinary tapas joint - these portions are BIG!  I've never seen patatas bravas piled so high!  The patatatas (typo and it stays) were very spicy and coated in a thick tomato sauce.  They were okay, a bit saucy for me and I've had better incarnations elsewhere.  

    One of our favorites was on the specials menu - a scallop dish with rice, crispy almonds, and an orange sauce (not orange fruit, orange colored).  The scallops were cooked beautifully and the rice/almond pilaf was delish and had just the right texture.  

    We also got some gambas al ajillo (shrimp with olive oil, garlic, and wine) and it was just okay.  Not much flavor from seasoning, just a dominant shrimpy taste, and not in a pleasant way.  The shrimp were small and twisty-shaped instead of the proud, big, toothsome ones you want.  Forgettable.  

    The baked goat cheese was the next star after the scallops - hot, soft, creamy goat cheese in the center of a luscious tomato sauce, and crispy garlic toasts alongside (supplemented by the basket of crusty bread with a soft interior).  Nothing not to love about this.

    We got a salad for good measure, the Ensalada Mixta, which was very big and had asparagus, beets, hearts of palm, and other treats with endive and a light, creamy dressing.  Pretty good salad actually, and a nice way to get your veggies in during the meal.  Not enough "stuff" amongst the lettuce, those little beets were tiny treasures!

    We also ordered baked rice and chorizo, but they forgot about it and cleared our plates and brought the check - then brought the chorizo.  We had realized they'd forgotten it but decided not to remind them because we were too full!  They did take it off the bill - we'd have of course managed to eat it if they brought it during the meal instead of after but since they forgot and we were settled into being "finished" we just couldn't.  

    The meal was only about $80 with tip.  All of that for $20 a person is not a bad deal at all, so your money goes a long way here (since the portions are large).  However there's just nothing special about it.  Average atmosphere (TVs showing sports in the restaurant section, not just the bar, no thanks), below-average service, average sangria, and average tapas.  Even the standouts, the scallops and goat cheese, weren't like, amazing.  They were the way I expected/hoped all the food would be!  Just really well-executed, simple dishes.  Alas.  You'll do fine here and fill up, but there are way better places to get tapas in Chicago.

    BTdubs, reservations only for parties of 6+.  According to the menu they don't split the check but I don't know if that's true.

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/2/2014
    1 check-in

    My first time in Chicago and didn't know where to eat so I Yelp-d it. The pictures all look incredible for this place, so I had to try it. The dining area was quite loud, so if you're looking for a quiet place for dinner or a date maybe this would not be a good choice. I was on a little vaca and was only here for the food. At first glance the pictures of the food on the menu did not do it any justice. I ordered the lamb chops (special), seafood paella. Food had very good flavors and was not too salty. However, the food did not blow me away. Service was good. I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/28/2013
    1 check-in

    Came here on my birthday of last year and I had a group of 12 girls! We got seated pretty quickly for it being first come first serve. The place was packed! Service was great even though it was crazy busy! Food was excellent. We ordered so many things that I can't remember what everything was called but I do remember the mussels were mouth watering. Sangrias are a must!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/15/2014

    Yummy, small plate tapas. Reasonably priced. Good service. They bring fresh slices bread to go along w your tapas.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/29/2014
    1 check-in

    Huge portioned tapas! Not so much tapas then, I guess. The chicken paella was alright (need to compare it to cafe ba ba reeba). We also ordered the queso de cabra and patatas bravas (they had a special tomato sauce which gave it a little more kick). I think, overall, I liked cafe ba ba reeba more, but it wasn't a true apples to apples comparison. Looking forward to trying both again for proper analysis :)

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/14/2015

    The vegetarian paella is well worth the 35 minute wait. Try not to stuff yourself with bread and other tapas in the meantime!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/28/2014

    Fabulous tapas bar in the financial district downtown.  You will LOVE this restaurant and bar.  The cuisine was authentic.  You may have to wait for a table but it is worth it.  I have been there a few times just as a couple and also a few times with a larger group and each visit delivered on satisfaction.

  • 1.0 star rating
    5/20/2014

    Ten years ago... Don't remember the food. My friends came here for the Sangria. Didn't care for it either.

    I'm here to complain about the service!!

    The waitress wasn't really giving any spectacular service.

    I gave her a wasted $5 tip on the card.

    Stupid chubby loudmouth blonde she is comes back to me asking: is there anything I did wrong?

    I'm like thinking: what?

    She claims that I didn't give her a tip so she demanded to know what was it that I think she didn't warrant one.

    I thought I wrote a tip. I took the receipt and it was written like I remember of a $5 tip. She didn't apologize and walked away.

    I didn't have a temper back then in public or as aggressive as I am now thanks to the military.  

    The professionalism in that was absolutely ridiculous as I have to reflect now. I'm writing this now bc someone mentioned the other day that they want to try this place. I told them this horrendous story about the customer service..the manager can't even figure out the humiliation I should've felt back then but I didn't until I thought about this injustice.

    If this ever happens to me ever again, guess what I will do? Yep take that receipt to shred and throw it back in that bitches face. If they call the cops, I will claim the bitch assaulted me by being in my intimate space uninvited.
    I got lots for my defense with lots of victim cards. Yep it's full on war and why I'm really guarded against urban and popular places.  The likelihood of plenty of idiots who are all dramatic and selfish...just like that waitress and the restaurant who harbors it..wait, isn't that the culture of Chicago?  The dumb card and turning the other way.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/3/2014

    This place was absolutely amazing. I especially enjoyed pincho de solomillo and the queso de cabra along with the pitcher of sangria. Highly recommended.

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/6/2014

    Service was mediocre. Tapas were below average and over priced. Tables were crammed into a space that made it difficult to move around without disturbing other diners. Won't be back. For tapas Ba Ba Re Ba is superior in quality, price, and atmosphere.

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/24/2014

    So admittedly we don't come to Chicago that often though we used to live here. For a few days we are staying at The Drake and wanted tapas. Our first go to thought was Cafe Ba Ba Reba, but the concierge suggested we try Cafe Iberico. We hoofed over and sat in their second class section with little lighting, and ordered various plates of tapas. I have to say I was expecting smaller dishes with flavor. We received huge dishes almost totally devoid of flavor. Plentiful but tasteless food. Life is full of surprises but this is one surprise we will not repeat.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    4/1/2014
    1 check-in

    The food is mighty delicious. Being a tapas bar I strongly recommend going with many people so that you can try the many different items on the menu. The garlic potatoes were incredible, I also very much enjoyed the calamari dish.

    My only complaint would be that the service seem to be slightly lacking. The waiters were spread too thin. We had many dishes sitting and they couldn't bring the new food because the old dishes were sitting there.

    All in all, for the price, this is a great tapas bar. The atmosphere is quaint and the restaurant is very clean.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/9/2014

    I really like this place! Why have I never been here before?!

    Was there this past Saturday night to celebrate my birthday with 4 friends. We met up there around 7:30pm and I was nervous that we would have to wait but we were sat right away. AWESOME!
    We ordered about 10 different tapas and loved them all.
    The cold garlic potatoes were so so good.
    I am not normally a huge fan of sangria but we blew through 2 pitchers of the white and I am still craving more.
    They even brought out a HUGE piece of tiramisu with a candle in it for my birthday.
    The ONLY reason why I gave this 4 and not 5 stars is because after we had finished our whole meal (including dessert) they brought out the goat cheese that we had ordered... that stunk..

    Other than that SMALL hiccup, the service was outstanding and I really have no complaints!!

    I will be back for sure!

  • 2.0 star rating
    2/18/2014
    1 check-in

    Not real Spanish tapas, not even real Jamón ibérico, but not real bad either.  Really somewhere right in the middle.

    This place is trying it's best for a Downtown Chicago location, but don't go here expecting a taste of the real España.

    As other people have pointed out the crowd did seem to be a bit on the younger side, but this place is relatively inexpensive and big enough to accommodate large groups.  If that's your scene then a couple pitchers of Sangria here are probably right up your alley!

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/8/2012

    Fia R and I came to this tapas bar in search for a Spanish fare. The décor encompassed two floors that started with the bar area, plenty of TVs, dim lighting, sectional dining areas, and dark wood and red bricks that overlapped our surroundings. We were seated at the bottom floor. The vibe was casual and the noise level was high.

    We started off with the Jamon Ibirico ($8.50) that came with four pieces of bread topped with minced tomato, manchego cheese, and thinly sliced cured ham. The bread they used was the same as those in the basket that was complimentary for every table. The cheese had good flavor, but it also dominated the cured ham that tasted lackluster. The dish was rather filling and not something I'd like to have again.

    Next, we had the Pulpo A LA Plancha ($8.75). It was presented with an assortment of seafood that included shrimp, squid, scallop, and white fish. The dish was covered in French fries that anchored this dish in a deep garlic flavor. There were some nice depths to the flavors, but the amount of French fries seemed to overwhelm the tiny pieces of seafood. I probably would have enjoyed this dish more had the potatoes was authentically fire roasted. It's not a dish that I would recommend either.

    Lastly, we shared the Seafood Paella ($12.95). It came with the same mix of seafood steeped in rice and a flavorful broth. The rice was a little soggier than expected, but the ensemble of flavors was passable, especially the seafood and peas. I find their prices to be affordable and the portions were satisfactory.

    Service was nonchalant and not particularly friendly. Our water was refilled several times and the server did come back to check on us regularly. However, I wished the dishes could be (re)introduced when they were delivered to the table. I also wished the server had taken the initiative to discuss the menu since this was our first visit. These were noticeable factors that influenced our experiences at this restaurant, as I saw other tables nearby received better service and treatment. 2.5 stars for the overall experience. I won't be coming back.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/4/2014

    I am in between a 3 and 4 rating, but I went for 4 because I have only been once and there are still lots of things on the menu that look delicious that I have yet to try. I was at Cafe Iberico two days ago. We had the Pincho de Solomillo and Queso de Cabra hot tapas, which were to die for!! I was not impressed at all with the chicken paella. It was very bland.. I was very disappointed especially after how good the tapas were. Also I was not a fan of the sangria. I am not an expert in sangria at all but I feel that this one was watery and less wine-y than what I've had at other Spanish places. The atmosphere is ok.. I think I prefer cozier more traditional spanish decorated places, but this place was big and open, played top 40 music videos on tv screens all around, and had a very diverse crowd. Overall, I would come back again, but this is not my favorite Spanish tapas place.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/23/2014

    During our annual winter visit in Chicago, my bf and I were looking for a place to eat. The one place we wanted to go didn't exist or something so discovering this place was by accident. Though we walked from lower wacker in the cold and didn't think we would ever make it, it was the best accident ever. I absolutely love the food here. My boyfriend and I thought the paella was so delicious. The sangria was yummy!  The following year I couldn't remember the name of the place but thank goodness so check-ins...  Since our first visit we bought his sister and her b to this place. They love it also! Great place and I will return everytime I'm in chicago!

  • 1.0 star rating
    5/6/2013
    1 check-in
    Listed in Chi-Town: The Bad

    So I was a little hesitant to come here despite the overall high ratings and word-of-mouth ravings for a couple reasons:
    1. I don't like tapas.
    2. I don't like over-hyped restaurants.
    3. The amount of mixed reviews on Yelp.
    Well, as you can see, my gut feeling was right.

    We had (and sorry I don't know the actual dish names because I didn't order the food):
    1. Seafood paella - This was my first paella ever. I was not impressed at all. It tasted like fluffy minute rice meaning there was no flavor, no kick, no life to the dish!

    2. Octopus paella (this was on the mini, special menu) - This was tasted worse, like mushy minute rice.

    3. Spicy potatoes with tomato sauce - I thought it would be like marinara or spaghetti sauce. Boy was I wrong. It tasted like steamed potatoes that were covered in spicy, warm, unsweetened ketchup. Weird.

    4. Croquettes - They looked like little mini, pinky finger-sized cheese sticks from the freezer aisle in Costco. I refused to try one because we got only five for $10 (ridiculous!!!) and the general census at the table was that they were not good. They also did not look appetizing.

    5. Some kind of octopus tapa with fries - It tasted like burnt. That was my first and only impression because I didn't take another bite.

    6. The ONLY THING I LIKED: the scallop tapa (from the specials of the day, non-menu thing). BUT. They cut the scallops so thin and presented them on steamed, bland, mushy potatoes to LOOK like they were nice, fat pieces of scallop.............

    7. Sangria - It was good. You can't really mess up sangria though..

    8. We probably had more, but...my memory fails me, and this review is already too long.

    This place was SO loud even though there was nobody there when we went in.
    I couldn't understand a word the waiter said because of the noise and his accent (nothing against that, but the combination didn't help). He also kept rushing us to order and made me feel very anxious because of that.

    Considering I went to Purple Pig the night before and paid almost the same amount, I would NOT recommend this place...

    OH I JUST REMEMBERED. Their cheesecake/mousse dessert was DELICIOUS! Nothing to do with tapas, however...

  • 1.0 star rating
    12/25/2013

    The good news is that the food was really good.  My friend noted that it was Chicago-style tapas, the plates were very large and there was a lot of food.  We had 5 plates and it was all very good.  I am not going to dwell on the good parts, though, as much as I would like to.  Like a few other reviews I have seen here, the after-effects of the meal were not good.  I missed two days from food poisoning -- I suspect the octopus or perhaps the wonderful-tasting squid.  

    I would love to write about the good parts, and the excellent service, but I don't think I could possibly go back at this point -- it would have been a 4-star otherwise.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/26/2014

    Love this place! My husband and I have dinner here every time we visit Chicago. Love the paella, gambas al ajillo, and pincho de pollo.

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/20/2014

    So I went to this place yesterday after reading all the reviews on yelp but it was way below my expectations. I have had better Sangria at so many places.

    I would not go there again in my life!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/1/2015

    Overall had a good dining experience. Ordered the lomo de buey a la brasa and it did not disappoint. It was extremely tender and flavorful. The service was attentive and friendly. One of the things that could have been better was the fruit in the red sangria which did not taste fresh. I will defenitely be back to Cafe Iberico.

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/19/2014

    Forgettable.
    The tapas are too big, the food just average. The attention was ok, but we felt rushed.
    It didn't feel like an authentic tapa place,rather a busy, Spanish- style restaurant.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/10/2014

    I first was introduced to this place by some coworkers wanting to go out to celebrate the holidays.    This place served as my introduction to the world of tapas and I have to say it was a worthy intro.    My fave dishes from there include their grilled sea scallops, shrimp, marinated pork loins, and their spicy potatoes.    About the only thing I hated was the very long wait and the cramped seating which is why I knocked a star.    But thankfully you forget all that once you try the food.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/27/2014

    Always a fav! Been going here for years for the following reasons:
    -patatas bravas
    -mushrooms
    -baked goat cheese
    -Sangria

    A very affordable place to dine on tapas in Chicago! Highly recommend.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/3/2013
    1 check-in

    Lots of food choices here for the bold and for and the timid. If you're unfamiliar with a certain dish, the staff is quite helpful in explaining the items you're planning on scarfing down. Service is also prompt, which is important for tapas since plates are constantly coming and going.

    I've only been here once, but it seems like there are a few different areas of the restaurant; exploration is required.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/30/2013

    When all was said and done, I really can't think of a reason to eat at Cafe Iberico a second time because the experience was average AND the prices were a bit high for small entrees.  After waiting almost 30 minutes for a table then finding out this was because wait staff simply hadn't cleaned off 3-4 empty tables (don't owners realize that to make money, all you need to do is sit people at tables??), we sampled six very average dishes and a sangria that one friend called "poor."  Here's how average the food was--even though I ate at Iberico five days ago, I had to consult the online menu to remember what any of the dishes were!!

    The calamari and the marinated pork were not bad.  The paella (Iberico) was below average; I think one of the specials we had, a large chicken empanada, was not bad but not killer.  On a Thursday evening at 9 PM, the place was crazy loud, but that's easy because large tables are seated very close to each other, so I spent a solid hour yelling at my four dining companions in order to be heard.

    As Yelp would say with this rating level..."Meh."

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/8/2014
    1 check-in

    Save some room for the Biscocho Borracho. It means drunken cake.

    I come here very often and it has been better in the past, but I still love this place. It is one of my favorite place to eat with the wife.  Most of everything is good and tasty.  This place is always loud so you if you are planning to take your date here. I would recommend some other place with less noise.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/5/2014
    10 check-ins

    ilove this place! The weekends are always packed, but the wait is well worth it. Try the red sangria and grilled calamari~

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/18/2013
    1 check-in

    I was not overly impressed with this place. I thought it would be a lot better considering the reviews. We had a number of tapas, so here's our assessment.

    We really liked the SANGRIA, CROQUETAS, PATATAS BRAVAS, and GAMBAS AJILLO (garlic shrimp).

    We also had the chorizo, the goat cheese, and the clams.

    It was all ok but nothing really blew us away. Good service. Wines by the glass are a good value.

    Since I visit Chicago only once every few years, I would not return here.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/10/2014

    I love Cafe Baba Reeba, Tapas Valencio, and some other ones in the city but I have to say Cafe Iberico is my favorite so far.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/2/2012
    1 check-in
    Listed in Lunch me

    I came here around 5PM and it was a welcome source of AC from the hot Chicago heat. The place wasn't very busy.

    The hostess seated us and the atmosphere was alright. We orders the grilled octopus with fries, mussels in marinara sauce and cold pork loin with spaghetti. The cold pork loin wasn't very good. I wouldn't order it ever again. It was swimming in olive oil. The mussels were good but they were very small. Practically the same size as clams! Also, it does not come in a typical marinara sauce. It's more of a creamy tomato sauce. It was very good with bread. The star of the meal was definitely the grilled octopus. Delicious and not too chewy. The sangria was good, but I think it's better at Cafe Ba Ba Bareeba.

    Service was sorely lacking, which is disappointing. We had a two seat table with two dishes, our own personal dishes, a half pitcher of sangria and our water cups when they dropped off the mussels dish. So the table seems pretty full right? They placed it at the corner of the table where I would place my right arm, but now I have to eat with my left hand because there isn't any space. No one noticed this until we were halfway done with our dish. After a hostess placed a couple next to us, she grabbed it off the table. We hardly ever saw our waiter by our table. He didn't serve us our bread either. It was a different waiter.

    Also, I don't know if they tried to trick us to buying bottled water by already placing them on the table before we got seated. We didn't know if it was standard service (which would have been cool) or if it was a trick. It's like when you get to a hotel room and you're tempted to open a bottle of water on the night stand but you don't know if you're going to get secretly charged for it.

    I would go back for the octopus, but nothing else.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/19/2015

    I've been there numerous times,   the food is great, sangria is refreshing, and atmosphere is fun.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/18/2014

    Came here years ago, food was much better.

    thumbs up for wifi for customers.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/10/2013

    I ate at Cafe Iberico last night for a date and it's still, ten years since my last visit, a very solid tapas option.  Expect to wait if you arrive after 7pm on a weekend night.  We arrived at 7:45 on a Saturday and had about a half an hour wait.  The food is very tasty.  The Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic shrimp) was exceptionally well prepared.  The sangria is awesome too - not overly sweet like some places.  

    I don't recommend Cafe Iberico for a larger group, mainly because I find small plates to be challenging to share if the group is too big, but also because I think conversation would be challenging given the louder atmosphere.  Four to me seems like the perfect party size.  

    If you're debating between Cafe Iberico and Cafe Babareeba, Iberico wins hand's down as Babareeba has declined drastically over the past several years.

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/6/2014
    1 check-in

    Quality has suffered here. We ordered the tilapia (great sauce), calamari (unremarkable), patatas bravas (spicy and awesome), escargot (tasty), chorizo (burned beyond recognition and I'm pretty sure one of them was polish sausage), and the pork with fries (cooked beyond recognition).  The sangria was okay but not very fruity. I can't recommend this place to friends and we were here for a birthday.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/22/2013
    1 check-in

    Iberico is defined as an age old string of pigs or some part of Spain.. That's what came up when googled anyway..

    I've been here a few times. It gets packed, it's pretty cool, and it's very popular. The sangria is delicious..

    I just read an article about how bad papas with the mayo is for you. Apparently it's one of the unhealthiest dishes out there but, it's absolutely very good here. Get the bacon wrapped dates, afterall this place is named after an old string of pigs. The empendadas were ok, kinda eh, the short rib was overcooked, dry, and no good, jamon croquettes are hard to mess up and good. Had a bunch of other things. The food on my most recent trip wasn't nearly as good as I remembered the place being.  

    Other than that, good prices on wine. Hopefully you're walking out of here with red teeth!

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/23/2014
    1 check-in

    Just okay. Though the calamari and sangria were bomb!
    Paella sub-par.
    Don't order their shrimp and pork dishes.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/24/2013 Updated review

    Fantastic. Fantastic. Fantastic. This has been my 3rd time visiting Cafe Iberico with each time being on a Saturday evening. The wait is a bit much, but whatever, it's expected so I'm not quite sure why some people complain.

    While you wait you can grab a drink at the bar located on the main floor or venture upstairs to the 2nd floor bar which is usually empty. The bartenders there care about your drinking experience so they'll take the time to explain to you what's in certain drinks, what the types of wines are, and even give you small flights of taste to assure you that you're ordering something you'll like.

    As far as the food goes, here is what I remember ordering:

    Croquetas de Pollo = BOMB.
    Raxo Adobado = BOMB.
    Queso de Cabra = BOMB.
    Patatas Bravas = BOMB.
    Salpicon de Marisco = BOMB.
    Lomo de Buey a la Brasa = BOMB.
    Almejas en Salsa Verde = BOMB.
    Jamon Iberico = BOMB.

    BOMB = Superior taste explosions that are out of this world.

    I'm pretty sure I had more to eat, but that's all I could remember because one can only take so much of taste explosions in one sitting.

    4.0 star rating
    1/4/2013 Previous review
    Yeup, went here again and I'm still loving the grub. Do it people. Get your grub on.
    4.0 star rating
    3/2/2011 Previous review
    Tapas...I love it. Latin cuisine...I live it. Cafe Iberico...I eat it.

    Eccentric tapas comparable to…
    Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    9/2/2014

    I went there on Sunday night and this place never fails to impress me! I was last here 3 years ago on another trip to Chicago, and decided to come here again since I enjoyed it so much back then.

    If you're looking for a lively restaurant, this place is right for you! The food is fairly good too, and since the portions are a decent size, you can try out a variety of different plates.

    Ensalada Mixta - We really enjoyed this salad. it was a good light start to our meal, and I liked the combination of vegetables in this one. The vinaigrette complemented the salad very well too
    Patatas Bravas - It looked a little boring, but the flavor was spot on, and there was a good amount of heat to it too
    Gambas al Ajillo - I really enjoyed the sauteed shrimp. Cooked very well and it was very flavorful
    Mejillones a la Marinera - The oysters were good, but nothing specifically stands out in my mind about it
    Paella Iberica - I expected a little more flavour out of the saffron sauce, but it was still a very good dish

    I'd suggest coming in larger parties (at least 4), just so you can try out more of the food! This place will definitely fill you up.

  • 1.0 star rating
    8/16/2014

    I wish I could give this place 0 stars. The food was so bland and every dish was super oily. Overall I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone that has normal taste buds.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/29/2014

    Dimly lit,  but pleasant interior.  Server handled multiple food/allergy issues with aplomb.  Nice wine consultation,  and the lamb shark was killer.

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/29/2014

    Good tapas spot. Kind of old school, but the food is good. Try the grilled octopus.

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/12/2014

    The quality of food doesn't match the ambiance in this place. For a restaurant in River North, you would think this establishment would put some more effort in their design, but I honestly just felt that this place had a slightly dirty and minimalist feel to it. The service was fine and the food was pretty good, I just couldn't get past the unflattering lighting and tacky atmosphere.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/30/2012

    Cute place located in downtown Chicago.

    Spanish food, didn't know what the difference was.
    It was good..everything was delicious!

    Started off with:
    ENSALADA MIXTA-3 stars, average salad but it was a good start.
    Spanish style mixed salad with asparagus, beets, hearts of palm, endive, dressed with our vinaigrette and wine dressing.

    POLLO A LA BRASA-4 stars, meat just fell off the chicken bone. It was great!
    Half roasted chicken with Spanish style mashed potatoes, garnished with vegetables.

    LOMO DE BUEY A LA BRASA-4 stars, meat had the same concept as the chicken dish, fell right off and was tender.
    Grilled beef tenderloin served with potatoes and vegetables

    FILLOA DE HELADO Y CREMA-3 stars, ice cream was awesome but crepe was thick and should of been a little thinner.
    Stuffed crepe with ice cream topped with whipped cream and strawberry sauce

    FLAN DE CARAMELO-4 stars, I usually don't like Flan but this was awesome! I was sold on this!
    Caramel custard.

    Overall a great experience of spanish food! Will try again and portions are small, so you can order a few plates and just share!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/28/2013
    1 check-in

    ¡Olé!

    Great restaurant with awesome food, friendly service and a diverse crowd. I recommend ordering a few tapas for the table and sharing a paella and a pitcher of sangria. Yum.

    Highlights:
    Sangria
    Paella Iberica

    Cafe Iberico = Bien hecho

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/7/2014

    My friend and I were excited to try this place after our amazing experience at a different tapas restaurant. We were in the mood for sangria and were let down that they didn't have any different flavors aside from the standard red/white. We went with the white and it was DELICIOUS! However, the tapas were a different story. Half of them were burnt. Yes, burnt- blackened dates anyone? Ew. To top it off, service was horrible. They took our plates before we finished, did not check in to see if we were alright, not too good. Glad we tried it but we will be sticking with other places. Cafe Ba Ba Reeba still wins.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/3/2015

    This restaurant has the best free bread and olive oil.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/3/2015

    It took a good 20 minutes after being seated to see a waiter, though it was Valentine's Day and it was very busy.  After that, the entire experience was great. We tried a variety of items on the menu.  I was really looking forward to the Paella, but it just didn't taste very good.  I will return, but I'll stick to small plates.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/23/2012
    1 check-in
    Listed in Chicago, Chicago

    Still my fav tapas spot in Chicago and maybe anywhere. Loud, crowded and rowdy, but solidly executed traditional tapas.

    Ensalata mixta (3.5) - fresh, recommend as a palate cleanser for the rest of the tapas
    Salpicon De Marisco (3) - generous portions of seafood, on the vinegary side

    Champiñones a la plancha (4) - mushrooms simply grilled, but delicious
    Pincho De Solomillo (3) - the skewer tapas at Iberico are fine, but nothing exciting

    Pulpo a la plancha (5) - seriously one of my fav dishes in Chicago. Still love it at Iberico.
    Almejas En Salsa Verde (4) - yum! A delicious salsa verde base for the clams.
    Gambas Al Ajillo (3) - have had better elsewhere. The shrimp is sometimes overly cooked, hit-or-miss
    Red sangria (4) - solid.

    Paella (3.5) - this was the sole disappointment, ironically enough. The Paella Iberica was recommended to us by our server, but was rather poorly made, didn't at all seem warranted to require the 45 minutes - tasted more like it was hastily souped together in 15. I recall liking the Paella De Codorniz (quail), but perhaps that has changed.

    Staff is friendly and high energy. Good for groups.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/15/2013

    The sangria tho. YUM.

    I really liked the oysters too. It was a while since I've been here so I can't remember all the food. I came with a big group.. bill was messy. Make sure to get bill situated at the beginning if you are splitting checks (as you should at any restaurant).

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    4/12/2013

    Amazing Spanish Cuisine.  Tapas were reasonable  portions.  Paella was authentic and very delicious.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/22/2013
    1 check-in

    I absolutely love this place. I'm so glad that I had the chance to try it out while I was visiting in Chicago.

    I went here around 6-7pm and was seated fairly quickly.  It was really busy.  The waiter was very quick and attentive.  He had some great recommendations.  My favorite dish was the scallops with the saffron rice.  The scallops were seared perfectly and the dish was seasoned to perfection.  It was so good that my fiance placed an additional order.  The seafood paella, chicken empanada, and carne asada dishes also stood out to me.  All of the dishes had its own unique flavor.

    I don't think I had anything that I disliked.  This one probably one of the better meals that I had in Chicago.  The next time I visit, I will be sure to make time to stop by here again.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/19/2015
    1 check-in

    Overall I have to give this place 5 stars.  While some of the individual dishes I would rate as 4/5, I have to take into account the price, quantity, variety and other intangibles.  Because of this, this place easily gets the 5 star nod, can't wait to go back.
    Went here with friends and tried several different dishes, each of which are detailed below:
    Tortilla - this was very flavorful and a good sized portion, one, fed four adults
    Datiles con Jamon - pretty good, they were a little over cooked and the goat cheese they were stuffed with was a bit strong.  The rice they were served with was delicious.
    Patatas Bravas - these potatoes were boiled where as I preferred fried, but the bravas sauce was very good with a good spice level.
    Champinones a la Plancha - this dish was very good, a quality mix of mushrooms, perfectly cooked with a good pronounced garlic flavor.
    Croquetas de Pollo - these were decent, good flavor but a little dry.
    Empanada - we had the beef version and it was very tasty, good balance of flavors.
    Gambas al Ajillo - this dish missed the mark as the shrimp were way overcooked
    Jamon Iberico - this dish was not what I was expecting.  Typically when you order Jamon Iberico, with no other description, one would expect high quality, hand carved pieces of jamon.  This on the other hand was not that.  It was jamon, but certainly was not the highest quality version. It reminded me of a cut that was a couple notches above serrano. The tomato bread that it was served with was tasty.
    Raxo Adobado - this dish was thin cutlets of pork that were simply grilled, served with an onion / herb slaw and thin french fries, simply and tasty.
    Paella Iberica - this dish was pretty good, but again the shrimp were over cooked and the paella was made with long grain rice instead of bomba, which made a real difference in texture.
    For desert we had the Peras al Vino, Filloa de Helado y Crema, Chocolate Mouse and a special chocolate bread pudding.  Everyone of these deserts were absolutely amazing...amazing.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/30/2014

    Love the food and love the sangria! Hadn't been here in a while and decided to go for a late lunch. Although the food was great, the service was not. Not sure what it was but it seemed like no one wanted to help. Had a toddler and we asked for a high chair. They never came with it so had to go search for it. Server seemed disinterested and also had to go search for him when we were ready to order. They weren't even busy. Hopefully it was a fluke because I'd hate to avoid their food because of bad service.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/29/2014

    Food is good but service is not! I don't think I can relax and enjoy my food without utensils .... Water .....etc

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/13/2014

    Good place for non-vegetarians. Loud. Informal. Tapas style food.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/14/2013
    Listed in Yelp 100 Challenge

    Enjoyed an absolutely fabulous meal here last night! Delicious! As far as authenticity, or any of that... you're in Chicago. I'm not really sure what you want.

    The pulpo was perfectly cooked- it had that almost creamy consistency, but still had solid crispy grilled parts. Awesome. The jamon plate was pretty good, though at $9 a serving, I doubt that it's actually Jamon Iberico. But the cheese and the tomato bread more than made up for it.

    A special of pork shoulder was one of our favorite items, it was succulent and flavorful and a huge portion! We could have done without the gambas. They were a little overcooked and not garlicky enough for my taste. But the paella iberica was delicious - the chorizo that they use is really tasty.

    Overall, great meal. PRO TIP: If you are coming to (mostly) drink Sangria, snag a bar seat. They have smaller portions of the menu items so you can try more things and not gorge yourself.

    Enjoy!

  • 2.0 star rating
    2/19/2015

    Ok, what's the big deal! I looked forward to having Paella! I went with my in laws and they liked the tapas. They selected mostly seafood tapas. My favorite was the scallops! I could have used a big plate of that all by myself! There was another tapas that was steak I believe and it had good flavor. Pass on the seafood  Paella. It tasted bland with a touch of tomato sauce. The flan was good! As a Mexican I was a little disappointed. I expected better food. Nice atmosphere for friends and family. It can take the noise. Staff was attentive and helpful in explaining the menu! Their tables need to be bigger to handle plates of food and, drinks, it gets a little Zooey!!!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/6/2013

    Great food. The food is in pretty big portions for tapas. The prices are very reasonable. We went on a Wednesday afternoon, and we did not have a wait.
    We had the red wine sangria, tostadas de pisto(delicious), champinones a la plancha (very well done mushrooms!), Gambia al ajillo (the shrimp was very flavorful) and quest de cabra( the best goat cheese tapas I have had).
    Food aside, the service was not the best. The waiters always seemed in a rush, although they were not packed. But overall, it was a great experience.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/25/2014

    A friend introduced me to this place, which I never knew existed despite it being in my neighborhood. It's a Spanish family-style tapas place so be prepared to order several dishes to share. I really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere was cozy. I'd like to come back in the future (with more than one other person) so I can try more of their dishes!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/11/2013
    1 check-in

    My first time here last week, when others I know have been coming for awhile.
    We had a half pitcher of the white wine sangria
    Started off our delicious adventure with e garlic mashed potatoes - i've heard good things about it and have to agree with what was said.
    Also had the croquetas del pollo (chicken and ham puffs in an aioli sauce)
    Then came Salmon a La Pimienta (Fresh grilled salmon with green peppercorn sauce)
    .Finally came the Vieiras a  la Plancha  (Grilled sea scallops with saffron sauce)

    It was all very filling but very good. For what the two of us paid it was well worth it.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/3/2014

    Great for groups and the white sangria is delicious.  They don't take reservations for groups smaller than 6 though, so if you're in a small party, prepare to wait.

  • 1.0 star rating
    7/1/2014
    1 check-in

    Surprising. Expected better. They delivered the gazpacho bowl on top of the menus and left. Squid was tough & tasteless.  Baked goat cheese served with soft bread instead of crustini.  Everything bland & disappointing.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/3/2013
    1 check-in

    I've heard a lot about the place, and finally came here with a group of friends for dinner. All in all, it was good, but not great. This is probably a very strong three star rating.

    We were seated right away, even on a Saturday, even without reservations. But I think later in the evening (we were there before a theater performance) and you'd want to make reservations. At the time we were eating, we were told that they weren't taking any.

    Started with an ensalata mixta, which was good - I liked the asparagus and hearts of palm for a little variety. From there the olives (which were...olives, right? Not bad, but nothing special about them) and the jamon iberico, which was very good. I love jamon iberico ,and it was served with good manchego cheese on chewy bread.

    Our patatas bravas were very good, crispy potatoes in outstanding spicy tomato sauce, and corquetas de pollo were good, although not especially flavorful. The pulpo a la plancha was interesting - grilled tasty octopus served with what were basically french fries. I like this, but then, I like the texture of octopus. If you don't, then you might want to avoid. A late addition to the meal was an order of the chorizo y morcilla, which I didn't have much of, but what little I had was tasty.

    Finally, we had two paella, the iberica and vegetariana. Both were good, in decent portions. The iberica was my favorite, since I love the seafood/sausage/chicken combo, but the vegetable one was also good, with a pretty good mix of veggies that had stayed crisp and weren't cooked to death.

    Noise level certainly gets high was the evening progresses, I will say that. But service was good, and pretty quick - but we ordered in stages to make sure we didn't end up with too much rapidly cooling food on the table. I would come back - there are definitely other things to try.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/24/2014

    This place never disappoints, the paella is really good and the sangria is a must! tried the rib eye last time and it was amazing! Its best to go on a big group to sample more of the food they have.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/23/2014

    I love this place. The service is great, the food is very rich with flavor and the atmosphere is nice too. I love to go here late Friday or Saturday after the dinner crowed has slowed down. The sangria is delicious.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/13/2013
    4 check-ins

    I love this place.  Old standard of Chicago tapas - and it never fails to impress.  I brought three new people here last time we had dinner...  Everyone, all with varying tastes and restaurant preferences LOVED dinner.  The real hit of the meal was the roasted lamb special.  Holy yumminess!  Please make that a permanent addition to your menu - it was ridiculous!!!  

    Also, hands down the best garlicky potato salad anywhere.  ANYWHERE.  I dream of that stuff.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/21/2014

    Octopus, calamari, blood sausage, mushrooms, chorizo, and clams.  Washed down with plenty of sangria!  Tapas at this joint are SO GOOD and very affordable.  Also, barely had room to fit in the rice pudding and caramelized banana & cream, but we did, and it was GREAT!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/8/2014 Updated review

    Been there so many times, it was about time for me to give them a well deserved review. This is the only real Spanish Restaurant in Chicago, and also the best value. For some reason, tapas Restaurants tend to be overpriced, and the more expensive they are, they get further away from traditional Spanish food. The place is large, and loud, after all is Spanish, that is also part of the culture. Service is very fast and professional.

    4.0 star rating
    4/24/2010 Previous review
    This is a place to go and have fun, for some reason is always crowded. The food is great, not that… Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    10/14/2013

    INTRODUCTION
    I've been to many tapas places, but they are usually holes in the wall.  Iberico was HUGE by any comparison.  So many rooms and floors I easily could have gotten lost if left to my own devices.  I also went on a weekend so it was mobbed.  However, the staff is clearly very well prepared for crowds so we had excellent, fast, and courteous service the entire evening.

    DRINKS
    We had both the red and white sangria.  The red was a bit tart for me and very strong.  The white was equally strong but a bit sweeter.

    FOOD
    Largely hit or miss, which is typical for tapas joints, and mostly due to my own personal taste.  I felt the grilled and fried options were considerably more flavorful than the cold options.  Particularly the calamari, mushrooms, goat cheese marinara, and chorizo dishes were excellent.  The cold seafood dish was very underseasoned and the charcuterie plate was not easily shareable so those were my least favorite.

    AMBIANCE
    The place is massive and very loud.  But I knew about the loudness coming in so I was OK with it.  90s music videos on the screens.  Sparsely decorated on the upper floors.  The lower floors are much more tasteful.  Plenty of room on the tables for the plates and most of the dishes were easy to share.  

    CONCLUSION
    A FUN time! Food was very filling and the price was very reasonable for the amount of food and strong sangria we had.  Would return.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/2/2014

    It's pretty dark and noisy inside. So it might not be the right pick for you, if you are looking for a high-end, classy, romantic dating environment. We've tried the steamed mussels, as well as the skewer of octopus, pork, chicken and shrimp mixed with rice. The steamed mussels is awesome, fresh and decently seasoned. Octopus and shrimp are also well done. Although I doubt if the skewer dish is enough for a grown man, not enough food per serving!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/16/2014

    I LOVE this place!!! Any time I have family from Spain visit I take them here. This place as "Spanish" as I have seen in the US thus far! My favorite dish is the fried ocropus with french fries by far....but the russian salad and the criquettes are also very good. I will come again and again and again...

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/12/2014

    Great little tapas place. Sangria is sweet, patatas bravas is spicy, and goat cheese is a great staple. Attentive service. We sat at the bar and were probably in and out in under an hour. Seemed like a great place for large groups as well.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/3/2013

    Eeek I messed up on this one!  I came here with a group on a whim after 25 Degrees (around the corner) was closed. So, that means I didn't have time to look up reviews etc., so I had no clue what to order!

    I panicked and just ordered the most familiar thing on the menu... eggs, sausage and fries.  It was good, but exactly what you would expect.  I wish I had branched out a little bit.  Two of the people at my table got the paella (yum), and another got a delicious tomato soup with goat cheese.

    The inside decor is not too impressive, but the prices are cheap and this is a great place for a group outing or maybe even a first date!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/19/2014

    Made a quick detour here after our 1st choice was delayed. Pleasantly surprised. Quick & delicious tapas. We tried the eggplant toast & beef scquers. Large menu of varied choices to chose from.

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/4/2014

    Food is three stars at best. Atmosphere: two.  The place feels like an American bar attempting a spanish flare, which might work if you don't know better -except  it was too loud for dinner. Without being close to authentic, the food was  mediocre.  I need a real spanish tapas restaurant!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/1/2014

    Great amazing food for the price. Had a pitcher of sangria and shared lots of tapas with friends. Shrimp, scallops, mussels. You name it and it will be delicious. I highly recommend this place. The server was nice but not too personable that's why I'm only giving 4 stars. I'll be back though for sure!

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/17/2014
    1 check-in

    If you don't like noise, come early in the evening and early in the week. 4 of us shared 4 tapas and a paella and had plenty of food. Wines are very affordable. Staff can be aloof, but efficient. A good value for average food.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/17/2015

    I was invited to a birthday celebration at this restaurant. I showed up quite early and noticed how decently big the restaurant was. I was unaware of the upper levels until I was told by my cousin. Plenty of bars in the joint. As I waited upstairs, and we waited for quite a while for a table, I was helped by a friendly bartender. There wasn't much to do while I waited except drink. After everyone started showing up, we finally got a table. Must've had nearly 20 people in the group. Since it was my first time there, I didn't know what to expect when it came to food. After reading the menu over and over, I finally ordered a desert item. Forgot the name, but it was basically a crepe with ice cream. It was so good. Everyone else got their food. I think I remember trying some scallops. I don't remember what else I had. Oh, before I forget.  I did try some sangria. I'll admit, it wasn't that bad. Although, I'm not a huge wine drinker. If I go again, I'll definitely plan ahead by reviewing the menu again so I know what to get next time.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/15/2013

    Sangria by the pitcher. Enough said.

    Pretty decent tapas bar at a reasonable price. I'd have to say the only downside would probably be the service. A bit slow, waiters on two separate occasions would forget my order or take forever to bring our check.  But I'd recommend this place for the sangria alone.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/2/2012

    I was never a big tapas fiend, I'm a greedy guy and I like to have my own plate, but this place has helped me start to appreciate Spanish food more. The atmosphere and size of the place makes it great for groups, and you probably won't need reservations.

    Some of my faves:
    Queso De Cabra - can't go wrong with goat cheese!
    Pulpo a la Plancha - Octopus was delicious
    Mejillones a la Marinera - Mmm mussels, and the sauce is good too

    The Paella was alright, nothing to write home about. And it does take 45 mins, which actually goes much quicker than you think when you're scarfing down all your other dishes.

    Oh and everyone gets the Sangria. It's not too strong but it's a good deal for a pitcher.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/10/2014

    Great choice! We ordered a decently priced bottle of Albariño.... And then sampled our way through cheese, potatoes bravas, octopus, and other apps. Mmmmmm. Slightly disappointing was the bus staff ... We had empty dishes on our table. I also wish it had been quieter... Don't remember it being that loud with euro music last time...

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/2/2013
    1 check-in

    I loved this place. We were hungry and needed a quick bite to eat. We had no preconceived ideas and just walked in off the street. The food was fresh and hot. We had a salmon and a scallop tapa. Both were out of this world. I wish we could have stayed and ate more. I have bookmarked this place to go back when I can. Stop if you are in the area. You will not be dissapointed.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/5/2013

    Eh... it was OK.  Not my favorite tapas in the city.  I came here on a co-workers recommendation, and I must say I was just kind of satisfied.  Basically, the conversation between my mouth and stomach would have been like this:

    "Hey, we're chewing some food, sending it down, now."
    "Yes, I acknowledge that is food."
    "What are your thoughts?"
    "It's food."

    I like Cafe Ba-Ba-Ree-Ba, more, and to a lesser extent, Tapas Gitana.  If you miss Cafe Iberico you're OK.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/4/2014

    The food is great! The only bad things are the long waits and the NOISE! Perhaps fun to go with a group but not a date.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/2/2013

    4 stars for the food, minus 1 for the rushed service.

    So, hub & I enter on a cold night and before even we remove our coats, our server is eager to take our drinks order (lemme breathe!) So, hub goes ahead and orders sangria hastily :D
    Its not even been 5 minutes since we have been seated, and our fast & furious server is ready to take our order. So, e go ahead and order croqettas (good), calamari (okay, similar to bar food) and pulpo a la gallaega (between okay and good, watev that is...:D).

    We take a breather after this one, much to the dismay of our server, but hey we are here to enjoy our meal and not stuff ourselves. Then, we finish it off with salmon ahumado (awesome, a must try) and the best part of the meal - caramel custard (a muuuuussssssssst try)

    Overall, I would still prefer Cafe Ba-ba-reeba, but if the wait is too long, try this place out for the food, good service not guaranteed though.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/18/2014

    Wow. Found this place on yelp, took the divvy bikes across town to get there. The effort was well worth it. Best shrimp I've ever had. The empanada and the goat cheese were amazing. And don't get me started on the spicy potatoes... talk about foodgasm. The meal was rounded out with a pitcher of the white wine sangria. Couldn't ask for a better meal. Would I recommend this place? In a heart beat.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/30/2014

    Best Tapas in Chicago. Downside is having to Wait Forever for a Cramped Table, and Hurried Service. However, no matter how annoyed I got over these inconveniences, the Food made me forget everything. It also doesn't hurt that the Prices are Extremely Reasonable for the Quality of Food, and the Sangria just goes down WAY too easy. I love this place (when I can muster up the energy to Wait in a Crowded Foyer, for a Table Crammed against Others).

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/8/2012

    Delicious Spanish tapas at very reasonable pricing.  I've been here twice now and have tried many of their dishes.  I'm a fan of the rabbit, the various paellas, and the spanish omelette.

    Some dishes are better than others (obviously), but overall, for the price and experience, just order whatever and odds are you don't be disappointed.  Unless you suck and hate flavor with your food.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/1/2012
    1 check-in

    Spanish tapas on the north side of Chicago.    I had the paella and octopus (with fries).   I've had better paella but definitely better than most.   Octopus wasn't chewy or overcooked.   Just right in terms of texture.    As a tourist, when you walk in, you have the option of counter or table.   If it's just you, I would recommend the counter (very much like a sushi place).   Anyhow, because the portions in the menu was big, I wasn't able to try a lot of things.    Fortunately, another tourist did something else I didn't think of (pick $3 dishes in the display).   He was able to eat a much wider selection.

    Would I visit again?  Maybe but I've got a much bigger list to work down first.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    9/13/2013

    I love this place. Seriously, it makes me happy every time I am there.

    There is a wonderful buzz in the atmosphere when you walk in the door, and there are always groups of people laughing and talking and just enjoying each others company. We found this gem when my girlfriend lived around the corner from it during her internship. We have been back several times, and it makes a great place for a girls night out.

    We usually have the Pincho de Pollo, the queso de cabra, and the croquetas de pollo. All three of them are AMAZING. Throw in some delicious sangria or glasses of wine, and it is a recipe for success. Now that I think about it, I need to plan a time to go there soon. Love this place.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/8/2014

    I sent my parents there for an anniversary dinner and they told me they had an amazing experience. They said the food was amazing - particularly the patatas braves and scallops and they said they had wonderful service. Thank you guys treating my parents to a great evening!

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/9/2013

    Loved this place - being a vegetarian I found so many yummy options.
    Great vibe and service - the sautéed mushrooms in olive oil were so delicious -
    I'll be back next time I'm in Chicago.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/27/2014

    Came here during concept testing. Very old school decor, reminded me a bit of Madrid. Solid food...shrimp, eggplant dish, dates, Octopus blanketed by fries.  Ok sangria

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/18/2012
    1 check-in

    Nice atmosphere. Friendly staff.

    My favorites were the:
    Sangria.. delicious!
    Carne asada.. interesting spin.. reminded me of pot roast. It served with potatoes and the meat was very tender.
    Bacon wrapped dates.. were the best I've ever had at a restaurant.

    So-so:
    Clams in a white wine sauce- the sauce tasted chicken brothy to me.

    Boo:
    Waiter recommended the Pulpo a La Plancha.. not tasty like I was hoping. It was a pile of greasiness.  

    Would I return? Probably.

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/24/2013
    1 check-in

    I came here with high expectations due to very positive recommendations from friends, and the line out the door, but left feeling a bit disappointed. We ordered an entire sampling of the menu (with 8 people), and there were some standouts and some true failures, which I will describe later. Overall the food seemed uninspired, hurried, and sloppy - it didn't feel like there was "love" put into it's creation and the plates were not presented in a way that makes me want to eat it.

    Worth trying: bacon wrapped dates, goat cheese spread/bruchetta, chicken/ham (the meat version) paella, lamb dish

    Please skip: potato salad (about 50% potato and 50% mayo/dill, bad balance), seafood paella (really not fresh seafood)

    I noticed that almost every dish used potatoes/carrots as their vegetable and I got very tired of it after 15 tapas with a similar side dish.

    This place is great for large groups as people can order all different dishes, and share though. Sangria was served promptly, and seems like it was made in house.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/31/2014

    It is ok, not exceptional.  The food is hearty but more common.  Service was ok,  Bread service took longer than usual.  Sangria was strong but not flavorful.  We had shrimp, eggplant, paella.  The paella was salty and little taste of saffron.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/9/2013

    Best Tapas ever! Great service, great atmosphere and of course great food & drink! Highly recommend the red sangria! Only complaint is it can get extremely loud at night but I suppose that's just because they're so busy!

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/16/2013
    1 check-in

    Went here for the second time and the quality has really gone downhill. Service was fine as we went early and wasn't busy at all.
    But the food was lackluster on this second visit nearly 3 years later.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/27/2014
    1 check-in

    Octopus is great!would defly come back for octopus n fries! Paella is good too,n gambas n skewered fillet n frites are ok.Service is great!

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/26/2014

    Worst city tapas place I have been to. There are so many better places in Chicago such as Cafe Ba Ba Reeba. I don't think the food was inedible but would not look forward to coming back for sure.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/13/2014

    Great food! My favorite is pulpo a la plancha. Love the sangria. Nice place to hang out with friends

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/16/2012

    This used to be one of my favorite tapas places in Chicago, so when my parents came to town to visit, my husband and I decided to take them there.

    Last time we came to Iberico was probably half a year ago, and they were usually busy on a Saturday, so when we were seated right away, I was thinking, oh it's off to a good start! I couldn't have been more wrong. We waited 10 minutes for water, another 10min for someone to get us drinks, another 10min to order food, by the time we ordered food, I felt like I was too hungry to complain. And the thing was, they weren't even half full!

    Their sangria was as good as I remembered, but the food was kinda inconsistent. We had the potato omelette, salami plate, grilled mushroom, octopus, sauteed cod (off the special menu), and the seafood paella.  The omelette and salami plates were good, but I guess you can't really mess up potatoes/egg or cured meat. However, the octopus used to be my all time favorite from Iberico, and this time it was missing some serious seasoning. Not sure if they changed chef or they just forgot to put salt on the plate, but the dish was really NOT that good. I could read it off my parents' face, they were probably thinking "I could cook octopus better than this"...

    What else? The dessert. I used to LOVE their crepe, so I had to have it. I am not complaining about the filling, which was just vanilla ice cream. But the crepe was lumpy, stale, and can't even be cut open with my fork. I can mentally picture Gordon Ramsay spits it out and goes "this is the worst crepe I've ever tasted" if it were made by one of the Master Chef contestants. It was neither airy nor fluffy, it tasted like it had been living in the fridge for the past 3 days... Oh did I mention they also conveniently forgot to give us bread and olive oil from the start? Not like we really needed it by the time we were done with octopus, but at least they should have the curtsey to ASK.

    I was hugely disappointed at Iberico. There were just so many misses this time that I don't know if I'd want to come back anymore. Maybe I will come back just for the Sangria, but I'd go to Cafe Ba Ba Bareeba for tapas from now on.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/15/2014

    The restaurant has a nice feel, the service is good. Perfect for a casual lunch or dinner. The bar is good. I went in for a dinner and ordered an appetizer and sangria and an entree. I felt the plate size were small and the food was just ok.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/9/2012

    Crowded, feels like live bands are playing all around you, but good eats! We went on a Saturday night at 9 with no reservations (they don't take any) and told us it's a 45 minute wait. We went to the upstairs bar and found an empty table, and YAYYY they gave us seating right away.

    I love the prices here. We got a pitcher of sangria for 20 bucks and so between 4 people that's a glass and a half about, so we ended up getting 2 by the end of the night. Tapas size portions were good and we got all the dishes we wanted. For the price, this place is great eats! It's not chill because it's loud and it feels like you're 50 feet away from the person you are sitting across from.

    Service is okay, you get what you pay for. For big groups- delicious! This is not a romantic place, and I wouldn't come here with just one friend, but for a girls night out, why not? As far as the crowd--- people are nice, this place is not a classy tapas place like some are in River North but it's a good stop to save money, and it fills your tummy well!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/8/2012
    1 check-in

    Birthday dinner with 15 people? Cafe Iberico can handle it!

    For less than $30, we got a lot of food. And I mean, a lot, and I eat large quantities.

    Highlights: mussels in tomato broth, tuna/eel/scallops, red sangria (hear say)

    Meh: Iberico paella was mediocre, conch meat was overcooked

    Service was great. I'd come here again, for sure.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/16/2014

    Great food! Closest to authentic Spanish food I had in Spain and the portions are really big compare to other places

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/4/2012

    The food is good, and the atmosphere is fun--- but, note: there is a weird smell when you walk in. It goes away when you are seated. This place is LOUD. The paella takes 35min. It can be expensive ($6 for a small glass of sangria, but only $17 for a pitcher, which is 8 glasses). Order a good mix of hot and cold tapas--- start eating them when they come or else you won't have room for all the plates! The portion sizes are pretty decent (a hungry person is ok with 3 plates). If you want to take home leftovers, don't expect things like little plastic containers to keep the sauce separate. The menu says only 1 check per table, but they will break it up for you and bring separate checks if you do ask nicely.

    I went today 8/4, and we had a horribly incompetent waiter, but he was nice and the food was good. It's a classic place, and I'll be back...

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/4/2012
    2 check-ins

    I strongly suggest going off-peak hours unless you don't mind waiting and waiting and waiting. Some faves: grilled calamari, white sangria, jamon iberico, clams en salsa verde, seafood paella and much much more. You really can't go wrong.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/25/2012
    2 check-ins

    When I was a young employee of my last company, I had just moved downtown and was happy to have a good, cheap night out with coworkers.  Many of these nights were at Cafe Iberico because I worked with a largely Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian staff that loved it here, so we went.  And went.  And went.  Each and every time we came here, it was better than good.  

    It is surprising that more people don't know about Iberico.  When I have described where it is, most people don't realize that they have driven or cabbed by this restaurant hundreds of times and not really seen it.  What is great is that I can consistently recommend Iberico to a wide-range of people and they all have loved it.  

    I have been with big parties and small ones; that has never mattered to their service level or food quality.  You should head over for any tapas soon because if I hear one more person say that they are going to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba I am going to punch myself in the face.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/23/2012
    1 check-in

    I just love Iberico... I always leave with a full and satisfied tummy.  I brought my sisters here for their birthday and we intentionally planned to get there a bit early... we arrived at 6:30 pm on a Saturday and got seated immediately.  We ordered cold and hot tapas... my favorite is the Pulpo a la plancha...mmmm.... We got tapas with Salmon, eggplant, tomatoes (too many things to recall)... we all loved the chorizo with morcilla... my sisters laughed at me because they said I practically inhaled all of the food... I can't help myself... and of course we enjoyed a few pitchers of Sangria.  With the exception of having a smelly couple seated next to us, we would all agree it was a good time and the food was great...

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/17/2012

    I've been here a few times over the years and always enjoyed it. I especially like the garlic shrimp and chicken with caramelized onions and spanish rice.

    Other reviewers mentioned the poor customer service. The hostess, waiter and bus boy were all very pleasant and professional. Next tme I'm in Chicago I will make a special trip to Cafe Iberico.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/17/2013

    Love, Love, Love this place!

    I go here with girlfriends for happy hour or dinner before going out all the time. The food is good, especially the mussels which are the best! Drinks are fabulous, especially the delicious pitchers of sangria! And the tapas plates are really inexpensive.

    This place is legit, I can't wait to go back.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/28/2013

    First off the food was AWESOME!!!  Especially the Patatas Bravas!  So good!  But that's about all this place has going for it, that the food is delicious.  Service was sub par and the ambiance was lacking.  It would take forever for our waiter or bus boy to clear plates and bring new ones, so you would have your plate of food sitting getting cold while you wait for the new plates.  The place was crowded, and they were playing dance/pop music with tvs everywhere playing shows, so it was loud and so bizarre.  But if you can get past all that, they have some amazing food!  Its just going to cost you a pretty penny!

    I had to edit after I went to La Tasca, another Spanish Tapas restaurant, in Arlington Heights.  Café Iberico can take some pointers from La Tasca when it comes to service!  Almost thought about down-grading this to two-stars, but the food does it make it worth it for three-stars.  I probably will never go back, because I'm sure I can find another Spanish tapas in the city with better service and atmosphere.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/21/2012

    All I really have to say for this place is that it was definitely an awesome Yelp find. I wanted to meet up with a friend I hadn't seen in a long time but since he had been living in Chicago a bit, I told him he had to make the pick. We ended up coming here which was an excellent choice. Forgive the picture quality however; the lighting was dim.

    We started off with the patatas bravas which were potatoes covered in a spicy tomato sauce. There was something just oh-so-smooth but firm about the texture that made the potatoes work. The sauce had a great spicy kick to it that intensified by the folds as you ate more; one minute you're having a good time and the next, you've hit it up a notch with the heat. They were excellent.

    Next tapas that came out was the queso de cabra which was baked goat cheese with a tomato basil sauce to top on some bread. That goat cheese was amazingly creamy and smooth. I don't know what magic wonders they worked on that cheese but it was so silky in my mouth, I wanted to just eat the whole thing. Altogether, the plate reminded us of a spin on bruschetta. Classic.

    The best tapas of the night was the pulpo a la plancha. We have to thank Yelp for that heads-up. It was grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil. Amazing. The grilled octopus had a fantastic texture, and the charred part spoke volumes about the quality of the grill and technique. So much flavor packed into the seafood parts and the potatoes were a nice pair. Everything was garlicky in that I-need-more kind of way. Everyone loved this dish.

    Out next came the paella iberica which the waiter kindly told us to order ahead of time so we could get it on time; it was its own medley of seafood (mussels and clams), pork, chicken, peas, carrots, and rice in saffron sauce. I've got to say that it wasn't all too fantastic in my book and fairly basic. However, it wasn't bad; the rice was a good texture and consistency instead of mushy and the meats were plentiful. Perhaps I'm not a paella person?

    The last dish was their braised beef short ribs in mashed potatoes (it was a weekly special so I don't remember the official name). The beef peeled away from the bone beautifully and nearly melted in my mouth. So rich and creamy, the short ribs were fantastic. They were also bedded on some of the creamiest and heaviest mashed potatoes I've ever had. We definitely would've had more of it if we had the stomach real estate!

    Our drinks of choice were glasses of sangria from a shared pitcher. Quite delicious indeed! I'd love to come back here for some quick eats if I lived in the area.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/25/2010

    Best tapas I've ever had! But the wait time for a table (1 hour & 45 minutes) was a bit much. A great way to get past the wait is to sit at the bar. We got two seats at the bar after just 25 minutes of waiting, and was finishing dessert when our party was FINALLY called. Same food and instead of having people carrying food over our heads and smushed next to our table, we actually had some room to ourselves.

    Ordered the mushrooms, and two specials, one with scallops and leeks, and the other with pork and mushrooms on toast. After the first bite, I knew why people were willing to wait 2 hours to eat. Totally worth it! And the white sangria is so fantastic, save yourself some time and money and just order a pitcher at the start.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/21/2013
    1 check-in

    Meh. 2.5 stars. I guess i can round up like I usually do. Came here with friends and ordered a lot of dishes.

    Disliked:
    Goat: needed to the braised longer, very tough to chew, tough meat did fall off bone.
    Croquette(CROQUETAS DE POLLO): was weird, made my mouth dry and was very grainy. Slight ham flavor, expecting more. Friend said not usually this texture. *shrug*
    Chicken: Dry. nuff said
    Paella Iberica: no flavor in rice, clams were mushy, mussels a bit fishy, squid/ octopus tough to chew. Not fresh. Not good.
    Empanadas: didnt like the crust at all, they used pastry sheets for the crust. I prefer the traditional latin american empanada crusts. Filling had way too many peppers.

    Meh:
    Sangria: meh, cud have been a bit sweeter. Definitely watery
    Beef: kebab-like, nothing special. Decent
    Spicy potatoes (PATATAS BRAVAS): not spicy, not fried, unmemorable

    Liked:
    Garlic Shrimp (GAMBAS AL AJILLO): that oil and garlic with bread and the shrimp wasn't overcooked. YES!
    Garlic potatoes: MMmmm... garlic
    Octopus with frites (Pulpo a la Plancha) : nice small pieces that weren't overcooked and nicely seasoned
    Goat cheese(Queso de Cabra): nice musky flavor, sauce with cheese on toasted bread. Simple.
    Rabbit: was nice and tender, a bit too salty by itself but with potatoes, it was good.

    Had a good time with friends, but food was merely ok.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/30/2014

    This is my favorite tapas spot in the city. Don't get it confused, though, it's not an upscale, wear-a-suit type of spot. This is just an inexpensive, high quality, down-to-earth dining experience that offers something for the carnivores and the vegetarians. And the sangria's pretty good too. Last I checked they don't take reservations so make sure you send someone ahead maybe 30min before you want to eat to secure spots for a group; it gets pretty crowded on weekends.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/6/2013

    Loved it!  The service was excellent, we were seated right away and next to the window.  The server was very attentive and professional.  The food was fantastic!  We got the sautéed mushrooms, tortilla, shrimp in garlic olive oil, roasted pepper salad, lamb chops, paella (yum) and my personal favorite, the scallops with saffron rice.  The red and white sangria were awesome!!!   I wouldn't have changed anything about our experience at Café Iberico.

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/13/2014
    1 check-in

    would not come back again

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/25/2014

    Good for groups. I like the layout for large groups!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/11/2014

    I've come here many times and the food and service have been consistent. We usually order patatas bravas, the queso de cabra, grilled squid, etc. Prices and portions are reasonable! I like that is is open later on Sundays, sometimes places close early or you feel rushed/unwelcome if you walk in at 9 or 10pm.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/25/2012
    3 check-ins

    Love Love Love this place! Yes, it's super noisy, but that's what tapas restaurants are supposed to be like. Came here numerous times and still love it. Best tackled with a big group of people so you can try a little of everything. Especially recommended are: grilled mushrooms, braised short ribs, scallops, mussels, grilled squid, octopus and white sangria. Don't forget to get paella to fill up. For dessert: flan, rice pudding and caramelized banana are all good choices. Go and have a good time!

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/7/2013
    1 check-in

    Chicken drumsticks are amazing, but the service blows. My boyfriend and I went here for a Friday night date and the place was packed. Since I have mixed feelings about this place, I am going to list the pros and cons.

    Pros:
    1) The food is fabulous. The chicken dumplings, the patatas bravas, the salmon...all amazing.
    2) Its tapas but the portions are huge.

    Cons:
    1) way too loud.
    2) the wait staff doesn't really pay attention. We asked for water, and never got it.

    I wouldnt' go back on my own, but I would go with friends if they all wanted to go there.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/25/2014 Updated review

    Another visit. Lamb en cassoulet, chicken empanada, an asparagus and a mushroom soup and a shared Baracho (Spanish tiramasu). Couple of red wines. What's not to like about this place? This is not meant to be haute cuisine. Like all Spanish Tapas bars, this is very flavorful food, heavy emphasis on shellfish, great for sharing both food and pitchers of Sangria.

    4.0 star rating
    8/22/2011 Previous review
    We love this place! Visit every chance we get. Today I had a trio of Gaspacho soups (beat, garlic… Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    5/27/2013
    1 check-in

    Great tapas and sangria

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/8/2013

    I love this place and it is one of my favorite restaurants in the city.  I've been here several times and it has always been awesome.  I was here just this past weekend with a group of friends from Wisconsin who were not familiar with Spanish cuisine or tapas.  We got there at 6pm (on a Saturday), and did not have to wait for a table.  We ordered items off both menus, the regular one and the specials, and the waiter, Miguel, had also mentioned another hot tapa which wasn't on the menu.  We ordered the following things:

    1. Patatas Bravas- these are awesome and a must have when you eat here.
    2. Pincho de pollo- chicken skewers which were good.
    3. Champinones a la plancha- grilled mushrooms, another must have for me!
    4. Pulpo a la gallega- octopus, which I don't normally eat seafood, but I tried it and like it.
    5. Salmon a la pimienta, I didn't try this one but everyone loved it.
    6. Steamed mussels, another I didn't try but everyone else loved it.
    7. steak with carmelized onions on little toasts- this was amazing.  it was on the specials menu
    8. Dates stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in ham- these were also amazing. these were not on either menu.  I would definitely get them again.

    For dessert we split the coconut flan, sauteed banana, and the chocolate cheesecake.  All three were very tasty.  

    We also drank the Red Sangria which is awesome.  On other occasions I have ordered the Paella but you need to allow extra time.  If you have the extra time it is well worth the wait.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/29/2013 Updated review
    1 check-in

    I already wrote an outstanding view for this place, but I wanted to update because I'm moving out of Chicago in 2 months and am creating a bucket list which Cafe Iberico definitely made for best tapas: caitlinliz.com/2013/04/2…

    5.0 star rating
    9/11/2012 Previous review
    Best, most authentic tapas in Chicago!!! You know it's good when actual Spaniards eat there.

    I can't…
    Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    6/11/2012
    Listed in 100 in 2012

    This place is seriously tasty and affordable.  I loved the Paella and the cheeses and meats.  Everything was really good and the staff was super quick.  I thought the sangria was refreshing and affordable too.

    The one thing to take note of is it's really loud and if you have a big group you might have to raise your voices.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/16/2012
    2 check-ins

    I am one of a few Chicagoans that have never tried this very popular tapas joint!

    I always envisioned this place as being huge from driving by, but when I walked in it didn't seem so big. The dining room is actually a little cramped, but our party of 9 made it work anyway.

    We started out with our first of 5 pitchers of sangria..it was good but was not giving me a real buzz.

    Ahhh..on to the food

    Spicy potatoes with "special tomato sauce" (Patatas Bravas) spicy with excellent flavor!

    Beef Tenderloin Skewer (Pincho De Solomillo) very tender and delicious

    Grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine (Gambas Al Ajillo) really good!

    Chicken and ham puffs served with ali-oli sauce (Croqutas De Pollo) was okay

    Slow roasted lamb shank simmered with red wine (Jarrete De Cordero) my highlight...very tender, flavorful & juicy

    Service was good and the staff was very accommodating with our big group. Def a good spot for tapas with friends

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    3/6/2013

    The most special Tapas in Chicago. This place is perfect for special occasions,  engagements,  or night out.

    The sangria was sooo good!  All dishes were flavorful. Stand outs : clams,  mussells,  spicy potatoes,  and the best part was

    For my friends Bday the waiter brought her a dick-shaped dessert with two round scoops of ice cream at the base. I think it was a chocolate banana ...perverted but hilarious.

  • 1.0 star rating
    1/6/2012

    STAY AWAY! Unless you would enjoy eating at a dance club environment with pretty horrible music, you will not enjoy eating here. The restaurant is dingy, has a weird smell to it, and is really loud and noisy. There are 3 "levels to the restaurant: the floor level is probably the nicest because it is the closest to looking like a restaurant, the upper level is kind of like a cafe with a dessert display and kitchen window, and the bottom level feels like you are in the basement because it is stuffy and smelly.

    We ordered four dishes to share: scallops, beef tenderloin with fries, small clams, and spicy potatoes and I liked them in the order listed. All of the dishes are decent portions and range from $6.50 - $9.

    Service is pretty bad. Our server was Denell and we should have taken her bitchy attitude from the beginning as a warning sign to eat somewhere else. She was flabbergasted when a pregnant woman did not want to order a sangria with her meal. After we finished eating, we told her we did not want any coffee or dessert. As she was getting our check, I asked if the restaurant did anything for birthdays. She said "of course." She then brought out a slice of chocolate cake with a candle in it. She later brought the bill and charged me $5.50 for the birthday dessert. I could not believe it. She should have told me that there was a charge for a birthday celebration or at least asked what the guest of honor would like if we were going to have to pay for it. She also obviously knew that we had not been to the restaurant before because we had asked her about the number of dishes to order, etc. when we arrived at the restaurant. I talked to the manager about this on the way out and he tried to explain that the restaurant only offers a candle for birthdays. I told him that the server should have told me that was the case rather than selecting a dessert herself and padding the check. He said that he would talk to her about it which I knew was BS because he didn't even bother to ask WHO our server was.

    Overall, this has got to be one of the worst dining experiences that we had in Chicago and I am so bummed that it happened on a birthday. Luckily we went to the Signature Lounge at the John Hancock Center after this and had a fabulous time there. Horrible environment, bad service, mediocre food...learn from our sad experience and just STAY AWAY!!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/30/2013

    I ate here a while ago, but I still get a warm feeling whenever I think of it. A little mariachi after seafood paella and several other delicious items made the night memorable. Delicious, busy and lively.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/8/2013

    Amazing French fries and octopus! I have to come here at least once a month for that and some sangria.
    The only downside is that you can't make reservations on the weekends but it's worth the time to wait.
    Great food in general!

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/18/2013

    I love this place!!  I have been coming here for the past six years.  Really good tapas at a reasonable price.  Haven't found a dish that I didn't like.   Their sangria and desserts are really good too.

    Its great for big groups, parties, or a night out with your friends.  The atmosphere is lively and energetic during the evenings, especially on the weekends.   I have been here for lunch too and its pretty busy but you can definitely get seated right away.

    Its definitely a place to try!

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/5/2013
    Listed in Where I get full

    I love tapas and this is a common go to for many across the city.

    I don't think I've ever ordered something I don't like here.

    I would recommend the following:

    - PAELLA IBERICA - This has everything you need from all meats across the board. TASTY.

    - PATATAS BRAVAS - Potatoes that will cause a certain addiction in your life. You'll want to order at least 3 more after trying them. I promise.

    - QUESO DE CABRA - Goat cheese. Need I say more?

    - ALMEJAS EN SALSA VERDE - Request more bread with this one, the white wine sauce is incredible.

    If there was any other advice, just order some sangria. They do it well and if you don't get sangria while eating tapas, you're doing it wrong.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/30/2014

    Delicious food. Came here last night with my brother and his friends.  The atmosphere is great - good-looking HUGE restaurant. The complimentary bread before the meal was nothing spectacular, but we all had entrees that were delicious. I had the Pollo a la Brasa - it's a perfectly cooked half chicken with Spanish mashed potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and asparagus with some delicious light garlic/onion gravy drizzled over everything. It's seasoned perfectly - a seemingly simple meal that tasted incredible.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/27/2013
    1 check-in

    I LOVE Sangria and Tapas.

    Best part of our night.

    The classic sangria was perfect, the tapas were on point, perfect size for three of us. Loved loved loved!

    Will be back- just with different people because they suck.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/23/2013

    Doesn't get any better. I love Cafe' Iberico. Super reasonable prices, food is delicious and their sangria is some of the best i've had.

    Try their spicy potatoes, croquettes, octopus and fries and muscles. You won't be disappointed. They only take reservations if your party is larger than 6. So be prepared to wait a little bit if you come on the weekend in peak hours. The restaurant is huge though so you won't wait too long.

  • 1.0 star rating
    9/25/2014

    Very disappointed. Not my first time there, food is as good as other tapas places. But as a father/husband/ and grandchild was the most humiliating feeling. I couldn't seat with my family on the north part of the restaurant because of my 9 and 12 year olders. Apparently they don't seat parties with "kids" after 5pm on that side of the restaurant. I been working in this business for over 17years and never went through something like this. I missed the opportunity to enjoy a good Rioja bottle of wine and baked goat cheese accompanied by my grandfather who was visiting from out of town. I hope this review helps you to avoid that horrible feeling I went through that night. From my part... I don't think I will ever be back.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/28/2014

    I went there with a few girlfriends of mine. Our waiter was great and provided an amazing service. Restaurant itself was extremely loud, we couldn't hear each other. Food was just ok, and any dish that had shrips...those shrimps were so so so small.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/27/2012

    Inexpensive, great food, excellent Sangria. What more could you want in a tapas place?

    Standout dishes are the mussels in tomato sauce, the duck, and the almighty bacon wrapped dates (trumps another Tapas place with a Cafe in it's name in Lincoln Park - nudge nudge).

    This is an awesome first date place. The vibe is good, busy but not too loud. The Sangria will put you in the mood. Protip: for 24 bucks they will give a to-go gallon pitcher (in a really nice pitcher) of that tasty, tasty Sangria.

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/2/2012
    4 check-ins

    Of the many times I've ventured to Cafe Iberico, this was the first weekend encounter and it was so-so.

    The place became a makeshift tapas club scene: top 40s blaring overhead, dimmed down with discotheque lights. Not really the atmosphere I was expecting or used to on the other occasions I've visited. We were seated in an alcove surrounded by decorative deli cases. My side was facing directly at a deli case, which made it hard to look beyond the glaring fluorescent lights. It was LOUD, hence having convos was a no-go.

    The Queso de Cabra is the only highlight of our meal. Our Pulpo a la Plancha was overcooked and dry. Our clams came in a dubious thick sauce and was not fresh. While we didn't mind at first, servers would come by with plates we never ordered, or get our plates switched up with our neighbors. I usually have a pretty good experience at Cafe Iberico but wasn't impressed this round. Maybe it was because it was later on a Saturday night and they were super busy.

    Regardless, I'm going to skip this place for a little while.

  • 1.0 star rating
    12/22/2012

    Food was good, hostesses were rude, service was average until the end.

    After my group paid, the waiter came up to us and said that the tip "was not fair" because he had to tip the bartender too. We were too nice and gave him a little extra, but if I had been with my family or boyfriend I wouldn't have given him a penny more. If anything, a waiter can ask if anything was wrong with the service if they believe the tip to be unfair (which ours was NOT, by the way). But to tell us that "it's not fair" was so inappropriate and completely changed my mind about returning to this restaurant.

    Will not return nor recommend.

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/19/2012

    Cafe Iberico, you disappoint me.  I keep returning, usually at the behest of friends, and I always hope for the best.  I tell myself, "Maybe this time it will be different."  But, sadly, my hopes are always dashed, as was the case the other night.

    Although quite affordable, the food tends to be hit or miss.  Some of the items I have had have been fantastic, which is why I am giving two stars instead of one.  The mussels are very good, as are the scallops, and the stuffed dates were absolutely delicious.  Other items, however, have been mediocre (the garlic mushrooms and the baked goat cheese were nothing to write home about) or extremely disappointing (the seafood paella was bland and overcooked with very little seafood - I don't know why I expected better).

    The true downfall of Cafe Iberico is the truly horrible service.  Not only is it incredibly slow, but I have never had a server manage to get the table's order correct.  Every trip to Iberico entails missing items (for which you will be billed) or wrong items (for which you will be billed).  Most recently, the olive plate my table ordered never got to us, two of the people in the party never got their drinks, and they brought us the wrong type of paella.  We would have alerted our server, had we been able to find her.  We were finally able to flag down another server, who, instead of correcting the mistakes, brought us the check and said that if we were going to complain about things, then we needed to pay and leave.  Sadly, in my experience, this is to be expected.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/5/2013

    I see myself becoming a neighborhood regular here! Honestly, if you are comparing this and cafe babareeba, babareeba may win. But they are so far apart, there's room for both in Chicago. Their paella and sangria are pretty authentic, and the atmosphere really does bring me back to Spain! I think I was actually annoying my date with how much I was reminiscing my first time there about tapas in Granada. The tapas are not as amazing as remembered from Spain but still good. With tapas you can't go wrong, and they aren't too pricey so just order a bunch and enjoy your meal. Salud!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/14/2012

    MMMMMMMM I like it... I like it a lot.
    Get the octopus.
    The plates are much larger than Cafe Babareeba - keep that in mind when ordering.
    Super cool atmosphere, great wine, EXCELLENT SANGRIA, and delicious food - I haven't had one thing I didn't like and I have tried a lot.
    Good location too. Friendly staff...
    Overall I really like this place.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/14/2012

    Must-tries: Pincho de Solomillo/Pollo, Patatas Bravas.

    There are a lot of seating, and just as many menu options. Place could use a little remodeling though.

    This has been mentioned before, but the paella is actually kind of disappointing - I've had better.

    Also, the service could be more attentive.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/11/2014

    I came here on a Tuesday and it was busssyy. We were sat right away as a walk in. I ordered the sangria and salmon :) it was delicious! It came out quickly! Our server was so helpful and friendly! I had a great night and can't wait to come back!!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/9/2013
    8 check-ins

    My favorite place for tapas.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/7/2013
    1 check-in

    I've been here twice for tapas now.  While I have yet to check out babariba or whatever it's called, this seems like a good time to yelp one of "the" tapas bars of Chicago.

    The short of it: SAY YES TO SEAFOOD AND SANGRIA.

    The long of it: Great for groups of 2 to 12 and probably more than that.  With twelve, we each had a little bite of each tapas, which made our dinner feel like an awesome cocktail party.  With three, we each had a good little plate of each dish, which made dinner feel more like a tasting course.  Either way is yummmy and fun!

    Start with pitchers of sangria: each has about six glasses in it.  The red is a light version of the traditional sangria, while the white tastes like an alcoholic Capri-Sun.  I love Capri-Sun so I loved the white sangria.

    While you're deciding on your tapas, they bring you plates of bread, which you dip in the awesomely peppery and fruity olive oil.  But don't fill up on the bread, tempting as it may be.  Two tapas per person seems about right, a bit less if you're ordering a paella (which you should order first because it takes 35 minutes to make to order.  Also because it's delicious.)

    Things we really liked:
    MUSSELS in marinara sauce.  This is a relatively huge portion of mussels in a great broth.  You'll want to keep the pot for dipping your bread in later.  Best dish I've had.
    OCTOPUS with fries, grilled (fried?)  A friend says he sees people come in and just order these with sangria.  The octopus is slightly chewy, well seasoned, and the fries complement it well.  Another good sized portion.
    SQUID: I think this was a special.  Great!

    Other things we also liked:
    PAELLA: seafood paella is bomb.  It also feeds about 6 people comfortably.  So much flavor in the juicy rice, and the little mussels and other seafood are great.
    SHRIMP: garlic shrimp, a classic.  Tasty but not very special.
    GRILLED FISH: I have no idea what fish was ordered.  This was similar to the shrimp.
    JAMON Iberico, served with Manchego and some tomato toasts.  Delicious and simple.

    Other people liked these but I thought they were just OK-good:
    Baked goat cheese: the one at Piece is better.  Served with little garlic butter toasts.
    Garlic mushrooms: the ones at Sultan's are better.  A little boat of mushrooms that just aren't garlicky enough.
    Scallops: surprising to be down here, but the preparation didn't take advantage of the scallop.  I like this dish, in fact I recommend this dish: it's a bed of rice with the fried scallops and a mayo-y spicy sauce on top.  I just really love scallops, and I thought the sauce overpowered them.
    Lamb chop: a little tough.  It's like a pot roast in there, and the onions and potatoes and sauce are tasty.  But meh.

    This place is also very fast at bringing out your food, which makes it a fun and slightly overwhelming experience.  Experiment with your orders and all will be well (especially if you say yes to seafood and sangria).  Way easy to get to via the Chicago bus (#66, stop at Lasalle) or the brown line.

  • 1.0 star rating
    11/14/2012

    This place has so much wrong with it that it's hard to know where to start.

    -bad service,
    -dirty, slippery wet floors
    -average at best food, quite bland
    -sangria made with orange soda pop served out of trash cans surrounded by fruit flies
    -disorganized

    Some of the things it has going for it is a good wine list, but everything comes from a cellar which reaches over 90 degrees in the summer, so you're just paying for baked wine. Also, the pulpo is good, but prices have skyrocketed, so not worth it. And it would helped if they tried seasoning their food- more paprika, pepper, salt and try using more saffron in the dishes!

    I'm not sure why so many people like this place, but they need to try better Spanish food: I'd do Emilio's, Gitana or Mercat for REAL traditional tapas and Tavernita & Mercadito for small plates. So many good restaurants in this city, why waste your time?

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/10/2013
    1 check-in

    We went around 7pm on a Friday night and were seated promptly. The noise level in that place was loud, but not terrible...it was packed full of people drinking delicious sangria. :-)

    The seafood paella was awesome!!! Some other dishes we ordered that were delicious were the white sangria (go for the pitcher!), Ensalada Mixta, Veal Empanadas, and a beef dish with potatoes , carrots and gravy that was like pot roast. Delicious! We also ordered a shrimp entree with peppers but it was kind of small for an entree.

    In addition to the food being delicious, the service was great too. Highly recommended!

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/21/2013
    Listed in Must Revisit

    Oh my goodness!

    I was visiting a dear friend of mine and it was my first time in America/ IL and my first Tapas ever and I will never forget how good it was; I tried other tapas here in VA but nothing compares and I don't think any other tapas will.

    Still remember the great savory taste of every plate from 2007.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/26/2012

    This place get's pretty crowded on weekends. So be prepared to wait for a table. But while you wait you can hang by the bar and munch on the tapas. They have those displayed along with the prices at the bar. So you can pick out what you like an order. Also waiters will walk around with samples. It also gets pretty loud becaus everyone's having a good time. So if you want a quiet dinner probably this is not the place.
    We had a big group of ppl. So we ordred a couple of sangria pitchers and tons of tapas. I pretty much lost count of what we ate but everything was good. WIngs, bacon covered dates, spicy potatos, egg fritata, the seafood tapas, it's all good. Basically you can't go wrong with the tapas.
    Wait staff was very friendly, helpful and attentive. So if you wanna have some fun with a group of friends this definitely is a great place to go.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/20/2013
    1 check-in

    Good tapas. Order the special octopus not on the menu  Somedays are better than others here.  Sangria is good, nice and fruity.

  • 1.0 star rating
    3/6/2014

    I went here with my boyfriend for nice dinner night. We were greeted warmly and sat almost near the bathrooms with the two tops. Our waiter took too long to grab our orders. We finally placed our order and got them in decent time.

    Started eating and I was noticing where the hell is our waiter. Most restaurants for waiters would check up after beginning/middle or end of the meal. He showed up to our table twice during our stay. The table next to us with party of 4. They had their server often. (Same server as us). But they had alcohol beverages. He treated them better than us. I wasn't happy. I've been a server for couple months and learned things. Number one thing is check on customers, seeing how everything is in the beginning. Our waiter waited until the end of our dinner to ask that. We asked for dessert. This time he waited for our dessert and served it to us personally. From what I've seen the busboys' would do that for him. They were more attentive to the customers with picking up plates and serving food from the kitchen.

    I decided to not low ball him on his tip because it was almost $48. We gave him $5. I judged him for serves not how well the food was. I could give him $3 because that's what the serves was to me as a customer. Another thing to add, he wasn't busy with any other table with just 3-4 tables.

    The food was okay, but the tuna and egg salad with peas was really good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/22/2012
    1 check-in

    Thanks, Yelp, for a great suggestion.  We were walking around, looking for a place to eat, when through the magic of the Yelp app, we ended up here.
    The place was busy but we didn't have to wait long to be seated (and we had a large group).  Small plates that we tried were just OK.  However, Patella and Lamb were oh so very good.  The service was very good, considering the dinner rush.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/17/2013
    Listed in My Yelp 100 2013

    This is a great tapas restaurant in the city which I used to frequent a lot back in college when we'd visit Chicago for the weekend.

    Really everything they serve here is good, you can't go wroong, so I suggest you try a couple of staples and venture out and try some new dishes. Their menu is extensive, which usually I distrust, but here everything is tasty. As other Yelpers said, the patatas bravas are really good. Nice and creamy and spicy! The pincho de pollo, tortilla española, baked goat cheese, gambas al ajillo... the list goes on.

    I think for the quality of the food the prices are right. Cafe Iberico is much better than say Cafe Ba Bareeba (it's a chain!) and Mercat a la Planxa, so disappointing. Both are more expensive too.

    Definitely check this place out!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/6/2014

    Have been here a few things and have been happy with the food and service every time. It's a nice casual place to go to for lunch or dinner. The food is delicious and I have tried almost half, if not more of their menu. The Sangria is great...I loved the white one better over the red. The patatas are awesome!

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/14/2014

    Excent place to share a good food with your friends, don't forget to drink the Sangria.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/27/2014

    I love tapas so obviously I liked it but there is just something off about the food that didnt hit the spot.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/2/2012
    1 check-in

    Highly regarded and often visited Cafe Iberico is my (and many others') choice for good tapas food in Chicago. They don't take reservations for parties less than six so wait times can get ugly on popular nights. But a long wait is usually a good sign and that remains true for Iberico. Also true to form for good tapas is a rowdy and sometimes overwhelming noise level from energetic groups. But the best part is that food good is consistently good without a complicated menu and a nice drink list.

    We ordered a whole lot of food (and some before I got to the table) so I won't try and recap each dish. The standouts included a calamrai & fries dish, a sausage and rice dish and two different beef plates - one with cheese and one on a skewer with fries. That doesn't leave many choices for the "non-favorites" like spicy potatoes or baked goat cheese but that doesn't mean they weren't good. Also, the red sangria we ordered was tasty and not as sweet as I remembered.

    Cafe Iberico remains one of the best (if not the best) tapas option in Chicago. The food is consistent and delicious and accompanied by nice drinks and good service and value. I'm always looking for other ideas outside of Ba-Ba-Reba and Iberico so please share!

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/12/2012
    3 check-ins

    Currently one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago and definitely the best place to satiate my all to often tapas craving... Authentic and ample portions and very well priced.  We've eaten at cafe babareeba and it doesn't even compare in taste, price, and portion size ... Never going back to babareeba again!!

    We often go for dinner and have found that the best time to go on a Saturday night is between 6 and 7 pm... Little or no wait.  Once you get past 7pm it gets very very busy and ya can't make reservations... I would say it is worth the wait though...we went for the first time during lunch on a Sunday and loved that the ambience was quieter and we were seated right away.  Cant wait to eat there again

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/4/2013

    I am writing this review from the GF (Gluten Free) perspective. I would give this place 4.5 stars for non GF eaters.

    When I arrived, I let my waiter know I have a gluten allergy.  He came back with a business card size of what is GF on the menu.    Two stars

    I ordered the grilled calamari and it was yummy.  We had to order more as others at the table thought it was fantastic.  Four stars

    There were only handful other dishes I could order and all were spicy.  I took a chance and ordered the spicy shrimp.  They were awesome, but too spicy.  I cannot tolerate spicy food.  Four stars

    For those who have not been to Café Iberico, it is a place you go with large groups of people and share tapas style food.  You will find the food to be inexpensive, good, and fun in a group setting.  Five Stars

    However because of the lack of Gluten Free choices I have to give them 1.5 stars.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/23/2014

    My boyfriend took me here for a date! It was the perfect spot by the windows. Perfect lighting, packed house which we don't mind. soft talk, sounds of dish-wear and glasses. We ordered the scallops empanadas dates mussels goat cheese and more. My all time favorite were the croquettes. We did think the mussels were to fishy for me to try for first time. No biggie we exchanged them out for more croquettes. Waitress delivered great service she was very quick, friendly and always checked on us.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/9/2013

    Went here a few weeks back on a weeknight.  Not terribly busy but hopping for a weeknight.  Sangria-tasty(although a little overpriced).
    The mushroom tapas and octopus were absolutely fantastic,, and the service was great, too.
    Affordable(sin alcohol), and the food actually tasted like the food I had in Spain when I studied abroad.
    Definitely returning.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/18/2014

    I was determined to leave an excellent detailed review for this place, (which makes this my first positive review), however, a quick glance at the first dozen reviews listed basically sums up how awesome this place is.

    An addition I'd like to make is emphasize the authenticity of this place. They don't have to try to look authentic because they genuinely are. Instead of playing flamenco or other Spanish music to appear Spanish, they played retro 90's pop on the TVs, as was usually the case at tapas bars in Spain.  

    I'd also like to add that my waitress served exactly how they do in Spain. The right way! They bring you your food and then don't interrupt you 17 times to make sure that your food is tasting okay. If she saw an empty plate she'd grab it. Empty glass she'd fill it. Realizing it wasn't necessary to interrupt our conversation every time we needed something.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/16/2014

    You want tapas, that's the most authentic tapas restaurants that you could find in Chicago. Great atmosphere, great food! Keep it up!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/17/2014

    Great place. Cheap sangria, good food, good atmosphere with euro dance party songs playing on all the screens. We even got serenaded by a mariachi band. The pincho de pollo and scallpos are excellent.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    1/31/2014

    I've been coming here for about 5 years and the food is very uniform and great.  Only once I had a bad service experience but at the end it was all good.  Recommend this place to anyone who wants to try Spanish food in Chicago

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/11/2012
    1 check-in

    This place is always hopping and if you are in the mood for tapas give this place a try. This place has really great plates to share with friends and there is an energy here even if it is not completely packed. Was here a few days ago catching up with a friend after a long hiatus and we placed two orders of the goat cheese stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto. They were delish. Who can go wrong with accompanying orders of patatas bravas or queso de cabra.

    This place is a great place to gather with friends over pitchers of sangria and tasty food.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/29/2013
    1 check-in

    This place is great! I've been here two different times and been wowed both of them.

    It is apparently the largest Spanish restaurant in the world?  That is an advertisement on one of the screens within. Whether or not that is the case, we've always been able to get seated quickly, despite it being fairly busy. You walk in and are greeted by a bar-like area with various foods on display, and then you are quickly escorted back into the labyrinthine corridors of the restaurant.

    This is an excellent place for a large group, especially if you want to try lots and lots of different things and share. I've been particularly impressed by their octopus (pulpo?), which is less rubbery and strange and more tender and delicate. The jamon iberico is splendid, and then the tomato bread is a classic favorite.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/13/2013

    I love the crowd here. Diverse, scattered, curious. A cocktail of races, ethnicities mixed up in a jovial atmosphere. The food caters to that. No fine dining - that is not the point - yet, not too shabby.
    Grab a tasty bite in between things, over several small or medium size plates, have few drinks before an event, or, let this here be the event.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/10/2014

    Always delicious ! Always great service ! Their red sangria is inexpensive and delicious and if you buy it by the pitcher can get quite a few glasses per person. Their food is always cooked to perfection and they bring it out one tapas at a time so there isn't too much on the table at once. The atmosphere is casual and friendly and a diverse age crowd. Been there over and over.

  • 1.0 star rating
    6/10/2013

    Ate here Sunday evening 6/10 and wish we had not afterward.  My wife was so disappointed that she said as we left that we should have demanded not have paid because the food was not worth anything.  

    Now for some background we have ate at a number of good tapas(Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba, Meson Sabika & Macarena) places over the years, so we know quality food when we have it and this place doesn't have it!

    The red sangria was strong but otherwise lacked any good flavor.  

    My wife felt the mussels had a funky smell and the bacon wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese had not taste what so ever.  Even the Jamon Iberico wasn't very good.

    I should have heeded Sumeet D's review from 6/7 as this place ruined a wonderful evening out.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/6/2013

    I love Café Iberico. I had my birthday dinner here a year ago. It's a great place to go with groups of friends.

    I really enjoy the red sangria, croquetas de pollo, queso de cabra, aceitunas alinadas, and ensalada mixta.

    I have two gripes with this place. I'm always amazed at how loud it is. No matter how many people are there, I feel like I have to yell to be heard across the table. Luckily, I always enjoy myself so much that I put up with it and come back. The second thing is the dates. They make dates stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon. The thing is, they're not on the menu. You have to ask for them. The last time I asked for them, the waiter told us that you can get them all the time -- you just have to ask.  I don't get why they don't just put something so delicious on the menu! It's like, why do I feel like I have to scratch my nose and ask for some "wink winkers" in order to get some tasty dates?!?!?!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/26/2013

    Really good, and reasonably priced!

    The tapas were universally pretty delicious. The beef tenderloin special was especially awesome, but the stuff from the regular menu was good too - particularly the octopus with fries. The Croquettes with aioli were great too. The servings were pretty reasonably sized for tapas, though they varied considerably.

    The Paellas we had were kind of eh. The service was great, in that everyone was really nice, but sometimes they didn't know exactly what they were bringing out to us, which was a little confusing. The white wine and red wine sangrias were both excellent, but the white was definitely better.

    If I go again, I'll do the same thing I did this time: bring a big group (they take reservations for parties of over 6 if you call) and get a LOT of things.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/26/2012
    2 check-ins
    Listed in Tapas & Sangria!

    Years ago I was introduced to Tapas here (I have been obsessed with tapas since)...The pincho de pollo (chicken) has always been my favorite...but since I am a vegetarian now I just drool over it when someone else orders it.
    I really like their tortilla espanolla and stuffed mushrooms.

    BUT the best part about this place is the Sangria...it has to be the strongest and probably cheapest sangria from any other tapas place I have been. I love it! Perfect dinner if you ask me...drinks....tapas...good company (this place is always crowded for dinner...so it is obvious it is a good place)...and you won't have a heart attack when you get the bill because the prices here are less than most places.

    Service is pretty good...it really depends on how busy the place gets..this place can get reallllly busy!

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/22/2014

    Fun to go in groups!  It is ok to good.  Fun, and energetic atmosphere.  Gets very crowded and loud.  It has a lot of potential but will continue to just be an ok to good food yet fun place to go in a group place.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/6/2014

    This is a great hangout place and a Chicago classic for Hispanics and Spaniards. The tapa specials change every two weeks or so and  they can be spectacular. Some of the dishes are seasonal too, for example the octopus can be better at a certain time of the year. The finest dish they have in this restaurant is the almejas, or clams, but those can be seasonal too.. The roasted vegetables are excellent as well.  Desserts are always good. The food overall is not the best in the world but tapas in Spain are just for "picar" and enjoy the ambiance and people you are with. This restaurant is also full of attractive people and it is a good place to start a night of fun.

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/20/2014

    I found this restaurant to be overrated.  The service was ok, the food was hit or miss with some being very good and others lacking an identity.  The positives are the loud atmosphere is you are in the mood for such, the dishes are relatively inexpensive for Chicago and there was plenty to share.  The negatives for me were that it was a loud atmosphere that I was not in the mood for because it made it very difficult to talk, they rely a lot on sauces and the service was slow.  There are many other tapas places with higher quality and better service.  Lastly, if you have a large group and are just looking for a place to drink, sample a lot of food and drink...

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/4/2013

    Certainly among one of the good tapas spots in downtown. Wait time is a killer, they don't take reservations for small groups so only way is too wait. The ladies at the desk are not friendly at all, when asked about the wait time they will say something which is not even close to what it really is. So make sure you always go and keep asking when your turn is next or you might find yourself waiting for hours.
    Ambiance is okay, very loud environment so make sure it's not your first date.
    Food I definitely rate it higher than Emillo's since the quantity, quality and price is great.
    Don't forgot to order the red sangria a must have!!
    Overall, not a bad place except the wait time.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/3/2012
    1 check-in

    After a bite of paella you'll feel a little like you're in Barcelona, and after a pitcher of sangria you'll be sure of it. Very impressed the quality and price of the food and it comes with a side of that prompt Americana service.

    I recommend the sangria (don't pick between red and white - just order both), the croquetas de pollo and the patatas ali-oli (potatoes drenched in creamy bad-for-you goodness).

    They have a large upstairs area for parties as well. Apparently this is THE place for your bachelorette party. I saw no less than five sparkly tiaras when I was there last. Enjoy!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/21/2013
    1 check-in

    Great food, services, and energy! A place where locals come and many tourist never discover. Come and enjoy!

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/14/2013
    2 check-ins

    Not a huge fan but the atmosphere was nice and some of the dishes were tasy (Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes) and the Tostadas De Pisto (toasted bread with veggies) Although I've heard tons of recommendations I just was not blown away.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/1/2013

    Cafe Iberico is a noisy tapas bar.

    I didn't do the ordering so if you are looking for specific recommendations then you will not find it in this review.

    The only dish I know for sure we had was the paella iberica which was fantastic. If you like saffron, rice and other goodies, then paella is a must order dish. It takes some time but it's worth it.

    The small tapas plates were also good.
    Only the noise level was the let down for me.

  • 1.0 star rating
    8/17/2012

    I hate writing poor reviews but customer service is something I hold highly important and apparently this restaurant doesn't feel the same way.

    I came here with a group of girls after work for happy hour.  We sat down and it was NOT crowded but took the waiter 15 minutes to take our order from the point of getting our water.  When i got there my water had flakes of something floating in it and they replaced the cup.

    When we got our bread and oil I found broken glass and a bug on my plate with oil but was still really signed on to eating there.  I called a waiter over and told him what happened and he rolled his eyes at me and angrily grabbed my plate.  He came back and plopped another one down not even apologizing or showing concern. (this guy wasn't OUR waiter which I understand might have been why he was upset but still not  acceptable)

    I pulled a manager aside to explain the situation and she apologized but walked away from a table with 4 empty sangria glasses...didn't even ask what she could do to help.  Our waiter dropped the check and yelled "sorry for my rudeness!!!!"

    Wow. Nice. This wasn't even the waiter who rolled his eyes about the broken glass.  We explained that we spoke to the manager about the other waiter and he was still rude to us.

    Nothing was done to remedy the situation or apologize except more rudeness. I have been here before and the food was great but I cannot believe that a place that is so popular would think it was okay to treat their customers this way.  I will absolutely think twice about coming back here and warn others to be wary.

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/19/2011
    2 check-ins

    I did not like this place. It was loud and crowded. There are about three or four rooms (upstairs and downstairs) and all of it was crowded when my party of five arrived on a Saturday night.

    They have a cool system for people waiting for a table: if you're downstairs they'll put your name on the TV screen above the bar when you're table is ready. If you wait upstairs they'll call your cell phone. We waited upstairs and got two mini pitchers of sangria for $24 (hey! It was a long wait).

    When you order sangria, they don't put ice in the pitcher. They put ice in your glass. I think that's a great idea so that your sangria doesn't get watered down prematurely.

    The servers were nice and quick. Our food came out pretty fast too. I don't think the food (or sangria) was overly impressive. It was good, but nothing super wonderful.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/29/2014

    Me and my boyfriend have been going here for years! I very rarely find a restaurant that I love this much. They seafood is impeccable and the most reasonably priced tapas place with top quality food and fun atmosphere. Highly recommend!!!

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/3/2011

    A mi me encanta la comida de espana. I love Spanish food. But when all was said and done, this just didn't really hit the spot for me.

    #winning:
    - No wait (Wednesday night ~ 5:30) and it was never so busy that we were neglected. In fact, our waiter had only two or three tables and was never far away if we needed him.
    - Not as loud as we expected; I can definitely see how it would be very loud if all the tables were full, but that just wasn't the case last night. It seemed more like background noise, and we didn't really have trouble hearing one another.
    - Wine: I know you're supposed to get Sangria, but I really just can't deal with that much sugar. I love me a Rioja, and I really enjoyed the Atano (Antano?). And the pour was pretty stellar.

    I don't really want to say #losing, so maybe just #mediocre?
    - Food: Ok, so my gal pal raved about the paella. I'll give you this - it LOOKED beautiful and delish. But two things: one, the dish was not as deep as you would think for a $13 paella, and two, it just didn't have as much flavor as I was expecting. I went for the traditional tapas - patatas bravas (que rico! the sauce was a different consistency than I was expecting but it still made my belly happy), queso de cabra (good, but nothing over the top. I think I would have preferred that it was served with some marmelade instead of marinara sauce), and the plate of chorizo. I love me some Spanish sausage, but this plate neither looked appetizing nor was appetizing. There was only one type of sausage that I wanted to eat, and it wasn't even served with a side of more bread or cheese or something to complement it.

    Soooo it was good, but honestly? If I want tapas again, I'm going back to Quartino or Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba. Lo siento, sorry.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/13/2011
    Listed in Over Rated

    Once again, I don't get the hype? All the food was unseasoned, the bread was cold and hard. The paella was greasy and all the seafood in it was overcooked.
    I do wish I tried some potatoes. They looked really alluring.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/2/2013

    I just finished writing my review of Emilio's tapas, the theme of which was how all tapas restaurants are extremely similar, and I totally blanked on Iberico.  Though I do think that Cafe (I refuse to include that accent over the e, and it has nothing to do with the fact that I have no idea how) Iberico offers a slightly different experience than Emilio's or Ba-ba-reeba, I stand by my claim.

    Iberico's menu seems to be a bit more authentic (not that I'd really know) and, if memory serves, at a slightly lower price.  But as you may have surmised by the fact that I arrived at the same rating, I like the food less.  Still, the difference in negligible and if I included Iberico in the fictitious taste test I set up in the last review between Emilio's and Ba-ba-reeba, I may be able to tell, but I certainly wouldn't bet on it.  And I'll bet on damn near everything.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/1/2013

    A staple in Chicago.  Usually loud, but the food is good and reasonable and  the service is prompt - but transactional - not overly friendly. I eat  here every couple years - and nothing really changes!  Good food, good prices. A lot of history.

  • 1.0 star rating
    3/17/2013

    Guys, this place has bad service, and the food is not special. If you have to go here for some reason, maybe just get sangria at the bar (or get a gallon carry-out). There are so many amazing restaurants in the city; don't waste your time here.

    As others have noted, the wait staff often seems rushed even when the place isn't busy. And they can be rude and awkward.  Our experience:

    - Unfriendly and unhelpful reception desk
    - We wanted separate bills, and the waitress said "I do that later"... then gave us one bill for our group of 4 families, with all the items grouped together. "Just give me cards and tell me how much to put  on each one." Awesome: took us 20+ minutes to work it all out on our phone calculators. If your policy is one bill per table, EXPLAIN that to diners before they order, especially if they've explicitly asked you about it!!
    - No useful input from the waitstaff as we ordered, and they seemed very annoyed when we asked questions
    - Waitstaff put the food randomly on the table without making any effort to get it to the person who originally ordered it (this continued even after we pointed it out to them)
    - Waitress wouldn't take a picture for us? Said yes and then she walked away as we were passing her the camera

    And the food was just meh. Patatas bravas were very good, but I'm confident that any beginning cook could make something similar at home (yes, even you). Yes, the sangria was delicious. None of the other dishes were memorable, and many of them went unfinished because they were not good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/28/2012
    1 check-in

    yay for their yummy sangria!
    yay for yummy goat cheese!
    yay for yummy mushrooms!
    yay for pincho de solomillo!
    yay for good service!

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/2/2013

    Absolutely incredible, had the mussels, scallops and lamb. Was absolutely blown away. I've had tapas IN Spain and went to more than a few while I lived in NYC and this place is the real deal. Will definitely be returning! Great great great

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/28/2013

    Came hungry, left way too full.

    Started off with a roasted duck orange salad. It was good and blended well but there was too much dressing drenched in the salad.

    Then went on to order chorizo, saffron salmon, ham/sausage paella. Everything was alright but nothing really stood out. The blood sausage was the only thing that was pretty good but they only gave 2 pieces! Portions were pretty big but prices matched the size. We ordered just the right amount for 3 people.

    Overall not a bad tapas place, but I think I'd try somewhere else before coming back.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/19/2013

    Fun spot for a group! Hands down the best patatas bravas in the city. Their goat cheese is a crowd pleaser too. I love the salad with the hearts of palm. The garlic shrimp, and squid are pretty good, and so is the lamb dish! I also usually get the octopus although I wish they served them with something other than plain roasted potatoes. Peppers would be nice!  I'm not big on sangria, but theirs is good!
    I wish they had some live music once in a while like the tapas place I used to go to in San Diego, I might have to be a regular then...

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/17/2012
    2 check-ins

    Mmm!

    Me and a couple friends floated over to Cafe Iberico for a short evening of tapas and sangria. Under the lights surrounding the sign, we quickly found the place, and walked in. It was a Thursday night, and we were seated immediately walking past a wooden bar with some tables to a larger dining room full of tables. Looks great for a big group if you wanted to.

    Service began quickly, with a pitcher of sangria and some bread (rather unmemorable bread, but hey the food to come was great). And about that food, I wish we brought a bigger collection of people to try even more dishes, but a couple of the highlights of the meal were certainly the chicken croquettes with spicy aioli and of course the (big!) paella with everything.

    As a general rule, every plate was cleaned off, and everyone had a great time. Such an easy place to just walk into, it's my first Spanish tapas in the city, and I'll like to see how it stacks up across town!

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/20/2013
    1 check-in

    Ok, so heard different things, decided to try it out.  Not bad at all.  I like it, I would return.  I wouldn't rave, but I would suggest, depending on the occasion.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/6/2012

    I'm sure that some of you have heard or experienced an interaction similar to this:

    - Provincial mother: What are you kids doing tonight?

    - Well-cultured kids: We're going to a tapas bar!

    - Provincial mother: Whaaaaat? They don't get fully nude later, do they?

    :)

    Allow me to snobbishly point out that I grew up regularly eating Spanish food cooked by Spaniards. With that, I know I am not misguided in saying that the quail paella I tried was poorly executed. You could barely taste the saffron, the bottom of the rice did not form a little bit of a crust (which is not just a cosmetic thing, but which actually is reflected in the rice on top) and then the dish was someone's revenge extrapolated to me, as it was served cold.

    The food/price ratio was extremely high for a tapas place (both for the courses called entree and the tapas themselves), and that usually reflects poorly on the quality of the food, as it did at Ibérico. The saving grace was the mixed salad with endives, asparragus, cherry tomatoes and heart palms (but that is not very representative of tapas). Oh, and the tortilla española was actually good.

    The sangría had only orange slices and no other fruits, but it tasted good and was refreshing.

    I shall then continue my search for the holy grail of THE tapas places to go to in Chicago.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/16/2013

    I just love this place their food, service and sangria!!
    I highly recommend their shrimp tapa and their pincho  de pollo my and the last time I tried their white sangria the best one.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/23/2009

    My loves:
    - Aceitunas alinadas (Marinated Spanish olives).
    - Champinones a la plancha (Grilled mushrooms)
    - Pincho de solomillo (Beef skewers with carmelized onions) -- YUM.
    - Calamares a la plancha (Calamari) Yum!
    - Pulpo a la plancha (Octopus and fries) -- My absolute Favorite!
    - Mejillones a la marinera (mussels in marinara sauce) -- Mmm.
    - Seafood Paella AND the Iberico Paella. -- the paellas here are served in a larger portion than the paellas at Cafe Ba-ba-reba and A LOT tastier.

    The not-so-great list:
    - Patatas bravas (Spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce). -- Maybe the potatoes weren't fresh, but the one and only time I ordered this, I really didn't like it at all. But I've had better ones at other places.
    - Queso de cabra (goat cheese and tomato basil) -- Ok, so I'm lactose-intolerant... Maybe not a great idea.
    - Desserts.... Well, my friends love them, but again, I'm lactose-intolerant.

    I've been here more than a couple of times. I love the food. Every time a friend comes to visit Chicago, I always end up taking them to Cafe Iberico because it's one of my favorite restaurants in town. And every single time, without fail, they always end up loving it too.

    Oh, and I love their (red) sangrias. Gotta have that.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/12/2014

    Fantastic restaurant!  They have amazing sangria and the baked goat cheese is to die for.  Great place for a date night or a girls night out!

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/16/2012
    3 check-ins

    I used to LOVE this place.  Now it's a total disappointment.  Having lived and traveled in Spain, I'm pretty particular.  I do think that this place used to be good, but I think that now it's gotten so big and so busy that the quality has gone to crap.  Also, it's just so loud in there that you can't even hear anyone at the table with you.  

    Honestly, the sangria is terrible.  I can say this because I make my own, which I don't mind saying is delicious.  It's watered down and you can hardly tell that it's a wine-based drink, and I'd be shocked if there's actually any brandy in it.  As for the tapas, I think they're all just sort of okay.  

    I went last week and after we paid the check, it took the waitress TWENTY minutes before she picked it up from our table.  The service has gotten very slow and inattentive.

    I'll take Cafe Ba Ba Reeba (which I used to turn my nose up at) ANY day over Iberico.  Total disappointment.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/27/2012

    I had my birthday dinner here last night. We had a table of 6 and were seated within 20 mins. (Not bad for a Friday night). The food was so good. We tried like 10 or 11 different things. Vegetarian approved!!! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because the tables are so close together. We literally had to suck-in to get to our table a few times.  Also, the decor didn't really stand out like most popular places downtown. Maybe a little outdated. But I will disregard since the food is good.

    All in all, we had a great dinner!

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/17/2013
    1 check-in

    Saturday dinner. Had to wait an hour for a table for 5 (when we were told wait time was 40 mins when we got there), but the food made up for it! The sangria was good, the food portions were huge and tasted amazingly delicious.
    I had the Pollo A La Andaluza and shared the chocolate and caramel flan. I didn't really like that we seemed to have been stuffed into a corner in the back of the restaurant, but otherwise it was definitely worth it.
    While the attitude of the ladies at the desk ticked us off a bit, the waiting staff did a great job in making us feel welcome.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/11/2013

    I came here for a friend's birthday with a big group of people. We ordered a ton of dishes and just passed them around, as one does with tapas.

    There are so many things I'd recommend, but let's start with these: red potatoes with garlic mayo, ham with manchego cheese and tomato bread, chicken and ham puffs and vegetarian paella. That should keep you busy for Round 1.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/7/2012

    I had been to Iberico about 3 times before I reviewed it and was for the most part impressed. However, when I came here with some friends yesterday I could not believe how much the service, atmosphere and food has changed. The tapas came out quick but I was not impressed. I remember the garlic shrimp tasting better-there were only a few tiny shrimp in an almost flavorless sauce. They forgot one of our tapas and presentation of the dishes was lackluster.

    What really put me over the edge last night was that it took our waitress 30 minutes(I timed it) to bring back our check after we had given her our credit cards. She kept telling us to wait. After looking at my credit card statement today I'm also pretty sure she charged me 40 dollars more than I was supposed to pay. Although Cafe Iberico seems to have guests coming in and out the door, I will stay out.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 2.0 star rating
    6/26/2012
    3 check-ins
    Listed in España!

    "I love Cafe Iberico so much!  It reminds me so much of a restaurant I went to along Las Ramblas in Barcelona/ Playa d'en Bossa in Ibiza/ Gran Via in Madrid!" - Someone I would like to smack upside the head.

    Let's start with the wine list, one of the restaurant's (relatively speaking) strong points.  Most of the wine is from some of the large bodegas and household names in Spain - Marques de Caceres, Muga, and Martin Codax.  Because the restaurant is run and managed by Galicians, it was really nice to see a strong representation of Albarino wine and surprisingly enough, Estrella Galicia (the beer that we pretty much drink like water). [1]

    While we waited the typical 35-40 minutes for our paella to be prepared, we nibbled on olives to offset any effects of the  Albarino we were drinking.  The paella finally arrived - except I wouldn't really consider it paella.  Not only is the type of rice used incorrect [2] but rather than using saffron as a seasoning and coloring agent, it was pretty apparent that tumeric was used.  Although the seafood in the paella was fine, the rice was bland and flavorless and undercooked at parts of the bottom of the pan.

    For dessert, we shared the filloas, which were a lot more decadent than anything I'm accustomed to.  The crepe at Cafe Iberico is filled with both strawberry sauce AND ice cream.  And it was gigantic.  Dessert was fine, but it definitely wasn't anything like some of the airy, just slightly sweet filloas you can find at an outdoor festival.

    If Cafe Iberico serves the "most authentic" Spanish food in all of Chicago, then I'd hate to see what the competition is up to.

    [1] We came back to watch El Clasico here and enjoy a few Estrella Galicia beers at the bar.  A very lively atmosphere considering Cafe Iberico is a restaurant and not a sports bar.  We were mostly in the company of Barca fans though.

    [2] Bomba rice makes for the best paella: tienda.com/food/products…

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/28/2013

    Love love this place...patatas bravas are great, as is the goat cheese with marinara. And the croquettes too!

    They don't take reservations, and the place gets packed, which can mean very long wait times. Also, I dislike how they play music videos in the evening, usually super sexual and over the top...not something I want to see while enjoying a nice dinner. Seems trashy.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/3/2014

    My memories go way back with Iberico.  I've always loved their food.  They serve simple, authentic, reasonably priced Spanish cuisine.  While I have explored the abundance of tapas restaurants in Chicago, I always return here.  

    Tip: Try the specials.  I've rarely regretted it.  

    Fave tapas to name a few:

    Gambas al ajillo
    croquetas de pollo
    patatas bravas
    Calamares a la plancha

    Non-deal breaker negatives:

    The only reason I didn't give this a 5 star review is because the service here isn't at par with the food. It's actually pretty bad. If you aren't ordering much you don't seem to get the same attention from the servers.... I'm not saying all of them are like that.  It's also very noisy if you are looking for an intimate dinner. Friday and Saturday evenings feel like a night club.  Since the food hits the spot right on, these factors aren't deal breakers.

  • 1.0 star rating
    7/31/2013

    DISGUSTING. Do not go here. Zero stars, but yelp wont let me leave it at zero. We sat second floor against the wall near the staircase - our waiter spilled my drink and never offered to replenish or comp it. And to top off the evening, there was a ROACH crawling along the side railing and up the wall. It stopped mid wall and then scurried into the light socket. If a roach is out in plain sight with people, there is a serious infestation. Just imagine the kitchen...

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/8/2009 Updated review

    Oh, Iberico.

    How you've disappointed me.

    You used to be my number one destination for tapas.  I'd recommend you to all my friends/fam and RAVE about you delicious your food is!

    But, your quality and flavor has seriously declined.  What happened?  

    I think we REALLY need to talk about it.

    Your patatas bravas (aka spicy potatoes) are no longer a culinary delight.  Gone are the days of lightly fried, crispy spicy potatoes.  Instead, it's been replaced with some spicy, yet lackluster, mushy potatoes.  

    The squid I once craved is a little bland, completely lacking that garlicy/lemon zest.  It's just 'blah' in my eyes.

    The chorizo plate, which was once magnificently presented in all its grandeur, now appeared as some small pieces of burnt chorizo, randomly strewn all over a plate.  

    Oh, and seriously?  You're going to replace manchego cheese with swiss and hope no one notices?  That's a little sinful, I think.

    Your pitchers of sangria ($15) are still delightful, although a little more watered down from what I remember.  The saving grace of the meal was the duck special and the creme brulee-esque dessert.  

    The service was fantastic, as always.  Glad the decline in food quality didn't spill over the service.  Good to know!

    But, really, we MISS the old Iberico!  Please bring back the yummy and flavorful food.  Please?

    Until then, we're parting ways, Iberico.  And I'm sad to say goodbye.

    5.0 star rating
    7/26/2007 Previous review
    This place is guaranteed to be packed all weekend, so try to snag your table early!  If you're… Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    1/28/2013

    Looking for Spanish tapas? Go here.

    Excellent food. Awesome sangria. Seasonal menu. Great for groups who like to share. Came here early January 2013. Ordered about 8 dishes. Those that popped out to me:

    - Champinones a la Plancha (Grilled Mushrooms w/ garlic and olive oil)
    - Almejas en Salsa Verde (Small clams sautéed with shallots, white wine and parsley)
    - Meijillones a la Marinara (Steamed mussels with marinara sauce)
    - Three pepper and garlic bread
    - Grilled squid

    Regrets: Didn't order a beef/pork/chicken dish. What were we thinking???

    Great flavors. Great pricing.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/23/2012

    Dinner on 7-19-12
    Truth be told the food is more of a 3.5 with some 4 star options BUT the price is really good.  I went to dinner with 3 friends and for 4 of us it was about $35 each--so very affordable for drinks and lots of food.

    We got 2 pitchers of the red sangria and it was good---not the best I have ever had but tasty nonetheless.

    FOOD:
    Cold Tapas-
    Garden salad-pretty much exactly what you expect
    Potato salad-very very good, enough garlic that it had a serious bite to it, we all really liked it

    Hot Tapas-
    Goat Cheese-Fantastic, as good as I have ever had
    Garlic Shrimp-only so so, better quality of shrimp not cooked for so long would have been better.  It wasn't gross or bad tasting just not meeting potential.
    Salmon-pretty good but watch out if you don't like your salmon well done as it was a bit crispy on parts.  I like that, so it was good for me.
    Calamari-my friend said that it was good but I don't eat calamari so I can't say for sure.  It looked like it was supposed to look.
    Mixed Paella- the one with seafood and chicken (we skipped the pork).  This was solid and did not take as long as they said it would to come out.

    Dessert-
    Crepe filled with ice cream-The ice cream was good but the crepe ended up being a weird texture due to the freezing.  I know its more work to fill the crepe upon it being ordered, but it would have been a much better dessert that way.  Current preparation is killing the texture.
    Tiramisu type thing-I forget the name of it but it is described on the menu as a tiramisu type dessert so we will go with that.  It was really good.  Basic for sure, but definitely delivered on flavor.

    Note on the service: I notice that Cafe Iberico is getting slammed in some reviews.  I had a good experience.  We were seated right away, the server was very friendly and attentive.  It was loud, but generally speaking tapas restaurants are--so no big deal for me there.  It was Thursday night at 7pm--our food all came out at the right time and we had no complaints.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/3/2011

    Cafe Iberico = so enjoyable! My friend recommended this place and so my brother and I went for a nice walk to this restaurant.

    Salad - this was purely functional to get some veggies in our system. I was happy with the fresh asparagus, beets, and hearts of palm that we got in it

    Clams - MM! Dip the bread in the clam sauce. It's thicker, but not like chowder.

    Grilled Squid - MM, I think this was my favorite! It was grilled to perfection. Great texture and very buttery and smooth.

    Fried Octopus and tiny fries - the bottom of this was very greasy, but it's a greatly satisfying dish

    Every tapas dish we ordered was between $6-8.95

    The interior decor is really not that fancy or sophisticated and there are spanish soap operas playing in the background but I love that kind of stuff. It's great for big groups, and the restaurant is much larger than you actually think!

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/19/2011

    Cafe Iberico still resides in my memory as the BEST tapas place I have ever tried. Although no longer a Chicago resident, I still think about Iberico from time to time. I've been here three times and tried at least half of the menu. I did not have a single not-liked dish. I love everything about this place- the menu selection, the classy decor, and the great service.

    Great place for all occasions. You will not be disappointed. I'm seriously thinking about visiting Chicago right now..........

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/26/2014

    Great sangria and tapas. I recommend the warm goat cheese in tomato sauce and the fried calamari.

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/26/2012
    1 check-in

    Had a smattering of like 11 dishes, from beek skewers to baked goat cheese, from croquettes to veal and paella. Everything was fine but nothing wowed me. Our waitress was really nice but for some reason no one would clear the table of glasses or plates, even when they saw that the table was overflowing when they brought us new dishes.. The busboys were thuggin it and practically threw stuff down on the table. It was a warm night and a hot stuffy room, so we had a couple pitchers of the red and white sangrias.. delicously strong.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/6/2009
    3 check-ins

    I'm sure the other 500 reviews could tell you everything you could possibly need or want to know, BUT I will tell you two things they probably missed (hands down)...

    1)  Cafe Iberico is the closest you can get to the actual Spanish tapas ambiance without being in Madrid smelling the hanging hams and getting lung cancer from all the second-hand smoke.  Of course there's also a very slim chance that you will see tons of mullets while people-watching here in Chicago.  But hey, get some Sangria in people and who knows what could happen!  Now speaking of Sangria, they have some really good stuff at $4 a glass (or a better deal is $7 for 1/2 a pitcher).  As for their tapas, I recommend the croquetas de pollo, patatas bravas, queso de cabra and any of the salads.  Unlike many tapas places, their portions are good sizes.

    2)  The more important point is BEWARE OF THE UPSTAIRS on Friday and Saturday evenings between 5 pm and midnight.  What happens is the hostesses will try to talk you in to being part of the overflow detour that leads to the new and "in-progress" Basque tapas restaurant above called Pinxtos Tortilleria and Bar.  They offer bland options of only tortilla espanola (of chorizo, jamón and spinach) and skewered vegetables/meats (roughly $2 each).  It is a totally different menu and environment from Cafe Iberico.  Make sure you tell them what you're really looking for...and that most likely is Cafe Iberico.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/20/2014

    I love going here.  Food is good and the sangria is perfect. Its a great place to go out for food. Prices are very reasonable along with the food portions. Be open to trying different dishes because they are all good.  There is meter street parking. Depending on the day and time you might be able to be around the corner. I'm a fan. The only down side is the noise/crowded. It can get pretty full and the noise is off the roof. Hard to have conversations. Once I was eating with one friend and we got sat next to a party of about 8 people. Never again. Ill wait next time for a different table if next to a roudy group.

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/19/2014

    The food was acceptable...it is very loud for lunch though. Not a great place if you like privacy!

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/18/2014

    Good place for Spanish tapas.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/27/2011

    Best sangria, hands down.

    Every time I've ordered sangria elsewhere I kick myself. I'm all like "Why did you order this? You know you're only gonna jones for Cafe Iberico's." Every damn time.

    In New York. In Miami. All around Cali. Even friends' family's homemade recipes. Cafe Iberico still wins.

    I made the mistake of coming here before a closing shift at work once to kill time. And I was super happy. Get to work, "Eileen... you're so giggly!"

    As far as what to eat, if I had to break it down try one of their paellas. Or the octopus. Or the pincho de pollo. Most definitely give their braised pork cheeks & mash a try. This is on their specials menu though, so they won't always have it. I'd ask ahead of time.

    Cold tapas, hot tapas... one of my favorite tapas places in the city. I've had plenty to eat here in the last few years especially since it wasn't far from my old apartment. Then I didn't mind the walk or hopping on the brown line. If you can do either one of those things, I suggest it. Trying to park around here is chaos. They have valet but avoid it, if you can. It can get rather poppin' here on the weekends, go during the week if your schedule allows. Weekend service seems rushed with everyone trying to eat here, I can understand why it would aggravate some people. I'm usually here with such great company who I'm catching up with anyway so maybe that's why I tend to overlook this. But I've gone during weekday service and they actually TAKE THEIR TIME and make great suggestions.

    But the sangria folks. Go for the sangria.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/30/2014

    fantastic authentic spanish cuisine, very friendly and fast service. awesome place!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/4/2012

    I used to be a Ba-Ba-Reeba believer, but hadn't tried Iberico yet... the reviews just didn't wow me enough to change my ways.  On the advice of a coworker, I tried Iberico and I will never go back to Ba-Ba-Reeba!! The food was incredible, so authentic (from what I remember from when I was in Barcelona), and absolutely delicious.... And really reasonably priced too! 4 of us ate to our hearts content, we were completely stuffed, including 2 pitchers of Sangria, and it came to $30 each before tip.

    When I get Tapas, there are usually a few misses, but as long as I order more hits than misses I'm happy... at Cafe Iberico, there were no misses!!!!  We got there at 6pm on a Saturday and there wasn't a wait at all, in fact there were a ton of tables left available.  It was well worth the early trip.  And we ate typical Spanish style, taking our sweet time and leaving at after 8, and never felt rushed.

    Our server (I think his name was Juan) was incredible - he was there exactly when we needed him but was behind the scenes when we didn't need him. Our Sangria glasses were never empty, but you never noticed him refilling, which is exactly what a server should do.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/23/2011
    2 check-ins

    I can only attest to the goat cheese plate, spicy potatoes, and octopus. All were great.

    The service here is a little strange and not very attentive. I was expecting something a little bit more fun and upscale, but it was a Monday around 6:00, so I guess it wasn't too happenin yet.

    I'm a fan of tapas, but honestly, there are so many other places around town that I might frequent them more than Iberico.

    I bet this place could be fun with a big group on a Thursday or Friday around 8 pm...

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/2/2012

    I view tapas as the Spanish equivalent of dim sum.  So why are they so much more expensive?  A typical tapas dish is tiny and usually ~$5-10, wheres its Cantonese equivalent is usually $2-5.

    As previous reviewers have mentioned, this place definitely stands out with its bang for your buck.  The mussels and clams are both huge portions for just $8.  They were fresh, fat, and flavorful.  The paella was average, but for $13, you can't go wrong.  Highly recommended if you're in the mood for tapas and don't want to shell out $20+.

    Also, the music videos are hilariously entertaining.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/28/2013

    I have been here about 5 times and it never fails! Love the patatas bravas! Recently had the coconut dessert and I almost forgot to share with everyone else. This is a place that I will definitely be returning to.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/2/2011
    1 check-in
    Listed in Chicagoin' it up!

    Tapas is a great way of trying several dishes at smaller portion sizes, rather than having to buy full-sized entrees and without having to break the bank. Cafe Iberico is one of those places that has such offerings, specializing in Spanish cuisine. It's large, with 2-3 bar areas, and a decent amount of seating. The ambiance has Spanish-like decor: yellow walls, mirrors and wrought-iron designs plastered all over the walls, marble-like tables, and wood-lacquered chairs. I found the bottles covering the ceiling near the front very intriguing. It gave an otherwise boring ceiling, something to look at. Dress attire is casual, but most patrons wear something a little nicer like a sweater, button-down, or a blouse.

    Our party of 3 came here for an early dinner. We were initially going to order 8-9 dishes, but the waiter said 2 tapas per person would be good, so we wound up ordering 6 dishes:

    1) Pulpo A La Plancha ($8.75) - grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil. The octopus were tender, almost melting in your mouth and full of flavor. Octopus is very hard to prepare, but Iberico did it perfectly, making this mine and everyone else's favorite dish. They added a portion of well-seasoned fries to this dish to make it look more substantial, which was a nice bonus.
    2) Mejillones a la Marinera ($7.95) - steamed mussels with marinara sauce. The mussels were fresh, plump, and not overcooked. The marinara sauce was light, almost the color penne a la vodka. The sauce was great for dipping the bread into. It was a solid dish, but simple in preparation, not really doing much for me.
    3) Pincho de solomillo ($7.95) - skewered beef tenderloin with fries & caramelized onions. The beef was tender but did not hold a lot of flavor. I suppose they tried to counterbalance that with the caramelized onions, but these onions were cooked so long that it was as sweet as marmalade. It was almost inedible because of how sweet it was. Definitely not my cup of tea, and I would have preferred the beef to be complimented with a green chimichurri-like sauce.
    4) Almejas en salsa verde ($8.50) - small clams sauteed with shallots, white wine & parsley. This was downright my second favorite dish, if not my favorite. I have a love for clams, and these clams were perfectly cooked so that they were plump and not shriveled up. The combination of the sweet shallots, similar to an onion, and the white wine made for a superb sauce for both the clams, and to dip my bread in. I found myself dipping as much bread as I could, so that I could savor all that yummy goodness.
    5) Chorizo y Morcilla ($7.50) - combination platter of grilled Spanish-style sausages, 6 pieces of very thin-sliced chorizo and 2 pieces of blood sausage. The chorizo was overcooked and a bit dried out, making for a very disappointing dish. It didn't have any real heat to it, or any real noticeable spices. For those not familiar with blood sausage, the 2 pieces were mushy in consistency, and is not for everyone. It was good, but nothing from the norm. The portions in this dish were so small, making the dish look practically empty and making me wonder what we were paying for.
    6) Paella Iberica ($12.95) - a cafe Iberico original served with seafod, chicken & pork. The paella was actually decently sized, much bigger than any of the tapas dishes. It was easily shared among us, with plenty left over. The paella was perfectly cooked with chicken, pork, squid, fish, shrimp, 2 clams, 2 mussels, yellow rice and peas. I was surprised as how delightful this dish was, making this a must try.

    Service was something lacking, to the point where it was inconveniencing us. And I'm very patient and tolerant. However, the waiter never came to check up on us or clean any of the dishes as each one was brought out. Every time one of the servers came out with another dish, we had to reshuffle everything or he had to ask his buddy to clear some of the dishes, when they were already clearly stacked on top of each other on one side of the table. We'd be waiting there 1-3 minutes each time as they attempted to organize our table, with our help.

    Cafe Iberico had some hits and misses. The dishes I recommend trying are the Pulpo a La Plancha, Almejas en salsa verde, and the Paella Iberica. Portions were generous for the most part, and tapas were priced very fairly (with the exception of the Chorizo y Morcilla). Service is something they really need to work on, but putting that aside, I would definitely come back for those 3 dishes time and time again.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/24/2013
    1 check-in

    I love all their food. It's always hard to just choose one plate.  So I always get a lot of appetizers. My favorite is the octopus one and patas bravas. Also their sangria is delicious!

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/8/2013

    I absolutely love the atmosphere. This is a perfect place for a date or a girls night out. The food is pretty good, I had the chicken paella. Their red sangria is absolutely amazing.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/19/2012

    Very good tapas place.

    The quality of the service varies, it is way too noisy in the evening, but the food is legit!

    It is OK to deal with a loud crowd as long as the service is decent and the food is great, I WILL GO BACK!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/12/2011
    3 check-ins

    I love coming here for tapas. It's a great place to go for dinner with a couple friends or even a big party. It can get pretty packed on Friday and Saturday nights but if you order some sangria or stellas from the bar then you kinda forget how long you have to wait. Came here for dinner last Sunday with the fam bam visiting from LA and luckily we were seated pretty quickly

    I always order the same things when I come here:
    *Insalada Mixta: Has hearts of palm, endive, beets, avocado, tomatoes..it's a light salad but I love all the veggies that come with it
    *Queso de Cabra: baked goat cheese w/ marinara and garlic bread
    *Gambas al Ajillo: GARLIC SHRIMP..YUM
    *Paella Iberico: It does take a lil longer to prepare but if you order a bunch of different tapas it'll hold you over before the paella comes out
    *Pulpo: my fam loves this stuff..octopus

    Don't forget to order up a couple pitchers of white & red sangria too!

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/28/2013
    1 check-in

    I have yet to be disappointed by the food. Always excellent although the service can be anywhere from great to horrific I want to trip you when you walk by. Would love to find a place closer to home but when the craving hits, Iberico it is!

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/30/2011
    1 check-in

    It was a bad decision to come here on a Saturday night with a party of 12. We waited for over an hour to be seated -- and on a side note, I don't understand why a restaurant would NOT take reservations but would also not have an acceptable area for their patrons to wait. My friends and I kept getting told to stand aside, even though it was so crowded that we pretty much had nowhere else to wait except outside. (They should be glad that the weather was actually decent, otherwise I would have been PISSED.)

    When we finally did get to sit down, a frazzled waitress took all our orders in a rush and nearly forgot one corner of the table because she was bustling so fast to get away. Given that we waited so long to be seated, I do have to say that I was rather impressed with the short amount of time that it took for our food to come out. A friend and I shared the vegetarian Spanish omelette, the octopus fries, and the baked goat cheese. Out of those, my favorite was the octopus fries -- very oily and decadent, but I loved how the octopus was soft and well-done rather than chewy. All the portions were generous and filling.

    I didn't like how the restaurant was loud and playing some clubbing music in the background half of the time. I was basically screaming at my friend who was sitting across the table from me. Anyway, overall decent but there are probably better tapas places in the city.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/29/2012

    Lively & fun atmosphere. Tapas with good friends always makes for a good time :) If i had to pick though?? I'd vote Cafe Ba Ba Reeba as #1 for taste and ambiance. But for sure Cafe Iberico #2 for price and the amount of food to share with erryone else.

    - Pitcher Red Sangria
    - Paella Iberico - seafood, chicken, shrimp
    - Mejillones Marinera
    - Vieiras Plancha
    - Pincho Pollo
    - Patatas Bravas ---FAVS!!!!
    - Churrasco / Parrilla
    - Cazuela Migas

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/16/2013
    1 check-in

    Sangria was just ok. Far from being the best as they claim. Food was average. The portions were large enough to share if you order a few tapas.

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/13/2012

    seafood paella.  takes around 30 mins to make.
    in the meantime, watch some foodnetwork and eat some nice chewy bread w evoo.

    comes in a hot flat pan with shrimp, clams, mussels decorated on top.  funny how the wedges of lemon still had the sticker on it. they mustve cleaned it very well.

    paella wasnt as delicious but surely had flavors of seafood.
    service was slow, during lunchtime and it wasnt even a third filled up.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/29/2012

    This place is perfect for a late night dinner & drinks. Went on a Friday evening with my boyfriend with out a reservation & was able to get a seat at the upstairs bar which has open air seating. The music is very current with a hint of techno so def a good place to go before going out if that's what you're into.

    The menu was the perfect size and much more affordable then my other favorite tapas restaurant Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba. The sangria is also less expensive-we got a pitcher of red sangria for under $20 I believe & had a hard time finishing it in the two hours we were there (not watered down with ice like some places). However, the food isn't as tasty & I got the feeling the cooks weren't 100% familiar with what is safe for gluten free diners which is why I gave them a 4-star rating. The waiter we had was very friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our drinks or food which surprised me considering how busy the place was--very large 3 or 4 bars with in & plenty of restaurant seating also!

    I would definitely recommend giving this place a try with a group of friends or for dating on a budget.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/9/2012

    Went here with a group of 4 girls- we ordered 6 kinds of tapas which was the perfect amount of food. Highlights include the cold mariscos salad, goat cheese and crostini, grilled shrimp in garlic sauce, and tilapia/beans. Sangria was typical- not bad or exceptional.  I gave this place 4 stars and like it over Ba Ba Reeba because it's quieter and you can actually have a conversation.

    One of the annoying things is that the servers kept quickly taking our plates away, asked us once if we wanted more sangria, then brought us the check. The restaurant wasn't crowded and we easily would have stayed for more drinks, but really only stayed in total about an hour. It felt kind of rushed suppose they are used to being most efficient on busy nights.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/13/2011
    1 check-in

    We came in for a late lunch.  Decided on soup and salad since dinner was just around the corner.  (Yes, this was part of our 20-hour layover in Chicago)

    Me: Crema De Castanas - Chestnut cream soup garnished with butifarra sausage.  The perfect soup for the cold snowy weather of Chicago.

    Hubbie: Caldo Gallego - Galician style soup with white beans and rappini

    And we shared:
    Ensalada Mixta -Spanish style mixed salad with asparagus, beets, hearts of palm, endive.  Topped with their house wine-vinaigrette.  I will have to mirror this and try it at home!  The dressing is incredible..not overpowering like most vinaigrettes!

    Drinks:
    Negra Modelo and H2O

    Service: Awesome

    Next time we come here, I would like to try their many tapas...

    Salud!

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/26/2012

    I wouldn't say the food was exceptional, but the we had a great time. I was definately misled by previous reviews that indicated the price of dishes were $3-5. It was more like $7-10. That being said, the portion were definately bigger than tapas size.

    At first the constant techno music videos was annoying but after a few drinks the loudy and fun atmosphere rubs off and you don't noticed you've been waiitng 35 mins for your paella. Our bill was $86 before tip for the house paella, 4 alcoholic drinks (beer and wine), soup, lamb shank and dessert.  When I think about it, that's pretty damn good :-)

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/30/2011

    The volume can be high at this local tapas favorite.

    It's by far the strongest and best sangria in the city, but the kicker is its price! You can't find a better sangria deal around.

    Be prepared to wait for a table regardless of the time or day you go - it is always hopping with young and trendy professionals. I love this atmosphere for a fun group outing.

    They have a few small plates that change daily. Unfortunately, they do not have the bacon wrapped dates that are a staple in my tapas dining, but they have the most delicious smoked salmon and the goat cheese is yummy!

    It's easy to keep your meal to a modest budget or get a little crazy and order one of everything on the menu. Either way, it's a good time!

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/28/2013

    Decent tapas, one of the bests in Chicago.  It is loud though. Delicious food, hard to have conversations.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/21/2011
    1 check-in

    Been here many times.

    Really good food. The service could be better, but again they have really good food.

    Some of my favorites here are: ensalda de espinacas, queso de cabra, salpicon y ensalada de mariscos, patatas bravas among others.

    Lets not forget the sangria. It is good stuff.

    It gets really busy some times specially on the week ends, with long waits up to an hour or more. Use this time wisely, order a pitcher of sangria at the bar and start drinking up, that is if you are not driving. BTW don't be deceived that sangria will not get you drunk because it will and fast.

    Cafe Iberico!! Great food, OK service, killer sangria.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/26/2013

    Have dined here on numerous ocasions and love the food. It is worth the wait and i love the white and red sangria. Other than how loud it is in there i have no complaints. I have tried tons of things on the menu and enjoyed them all.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/12/2012
    1 check-in

    You really can't go wrong here...other than the large and sometimes unruly, loud crowds. But, if you are willing and able to deal with the madness...the food,good service and many of the foods options are well worth it...including the tasty pitchers of sangria. Plus, you can't beat the price for food and alcohol here.  Great for groups, and so fun to share the tapas, no? We really haven't had anything bad here.  Order at least 2 tapas per person - mix up hot and cold, order pitchers, not glasses, and save room for dessert, es muy delicioso.  Also, if you have groups of 8 ore more, I think they may take reservations...but don't quote me.

    Go and have fun...you won't be dissapointed.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 3.0 star rating
    1/23/2011
    1 check-in

    I enjoyed my meal at Cafe Iberico, but honestly, I prefer Cafe Ba-ba-reeba.  One does get the impression Iberico is more authentic in the tapas department, though.

    Here's a breakdown of what we ordered...

    Patatas ali-oli (red potatoes with garlic mayonnaise sauce).  Super garlicky.  I'm not big into mayo, but these were okay.

    Patatas bravas (spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce).  My favorite.  The potatoes were quite spicy - they kind of tasted like nuclear-hot fries.

    Pincho de solomillo (beef tenderloin skewer with fries and caramelized onions).  I enjoyed the beef as it was tender and well seasoned.  The fries didn't do much for me, especially after having the patatas bravas.  They were just limp and relatively flavorless.  And the carmelized onions weren't much of a bonus.

    Croquetas de pollo (chicken and ham puffs served with ali-oli sauce).  Pretty good, although the chicken and ham are blended to a mush.  I might have preferred them a little chunkier.

    Gambas al ajillo (grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine).  I'm not a shrimp fan, so I could have done without these.

    To wrap up we had a dessert of flan de caramelo.  Didn't really blow my hair back.

    I enjoyed the atmosphere, since it was packed and lively.  Service was generally good.  If someone suggested returning, I wouldn't be against it.  But as I left, I found myself wanting to have tapas from the Cafe Ba-ba-reeba menu.  That's not Iberico's fault, but my ratings do reflect quality compared to the competition, so even a good meal can lose a star by not being a great meal.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/20/2012

    I went here for a first date recently.  I consider my memories with this place to be pretty nice, but I was also really into my date so that could have certainly played a role.  

    Pros:
    ~The food was delicious.  I tried a few new things I maybe wouldn't have tried had my date not ordered them (such as the bacon wrapped dates) and everything was fantastic.  Really special plates with unique bursting flavors happening.  
    ~Portion sizes were just right.  Not too small, not too big.  We were able to share 3 things (shrimp, olives and dates which came with rice) and between conversation we filled up just fine.  Had we gone to pig out we probably would have gotten 5 plates.
    ~Sangria was yummy

    Cons:
    ~Really, really loud.  We went on a Friday night so perhaps it's different during the day (?).  If you intend on having a decent conversation I recommend heading somewhere else.  My voice was weak by the time we left and it took me a bit to nurse it back to normal.  There are tons of televisions in here as well and the music blasting was really lame.
    ~Cramped.  The tables are all up against each other basically and not in a family-style way.  For a tapas place there should be plenty of room on the table itself to put all the little plates of everything, but with our little 2 seater there was barely enough room for what we had and I actually knocked the bread basket over once.
    ~Service was Meh'.  He was polite enough, answered our questions and the place was packed... but don't expect much attention.

    Overall, I recommend this place because the food was delicious, but only for lunch or on a slower night when it'll probably be quieter and the service more attentive.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/7/2012

    HOLA FLAVOR! Everything I've tried here is tasty to the point of being addictive. The potatoes and octopus, patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo... These are not diet foods.

    As much as I love these mainstays, it was one of their specials that stole my heart - mussels in a creamy broth. Even after all the mussels were gone, I would not let the broth go to waste. I may have eaten a whole loaf of bread finishing it off. They should add that to the menu!

    My only complaint is that the place can get loud on a busy night, which can be hard for a large group to all converse without straining. Perhaps you'll be too busy stuffing your faces to want to chat much anyway.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/3/2012

    Calimari and Potatoes with Tobasco sauce! Need I say more?

    Gargantuan-sized buckets of Sangria - that taste like an explosion of fruits immediately followed by a smooth kick of alcoholic explosiveness - don't let the plastic garbage cans throw you off.

    The staff is extremely professional - I mean extremely cordial - I was impressed. The wait time is always quick in my opinion or maybe by my second glass of Sangria, I don't really care because I'm enjoying myself - ya know - the entire reason I came out to the joint above all!

    But try out these three dishes and tell me they aren't addictive!
    1. SALPICON DE MARISCO
    Mixed seafood salad with shrimp, octopus, and squid

    2. PULPO A LA PLANCHA
    Grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil.

    3. JARRETE DE CORDERO
    Slow roasted lamb shank simmered with red wine.

    How I put it - no one is perfect every night but every night I've went to this joint they have been MUCHO PERFECTO!

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/11/2013
    1 check-in

    Went to Café Iberico last night with a group of friends. Two of us arrived first, after 10 minutes,  another member of the group arrived, and then after about 20 minutes, the final three of our party arrived. The place wasn't that busy, but the restaurant immediately annoyed us by refusing to seat a partial party. Perhaps this is a sound policy of theirs for busy times, but when the restaurant is not busy, it's rude and off-putting. Indeed, the service was slightly substandard. Although the waitstaff was helpful and offered some good tapas suggestions, little things were amiss such as a shortage of serviettes (cheap paper ones at that), the prompt refilling of water and the periodically late arrival of individual dishes (eg we ordered Gazpacho soup, beef skewers, clams, mussels and lamb in a third round of tapas, but the soup arrived inexplicably late, only slightly before we were ordering desert). All in all the tapas was average: goat cheese and a heavy-handed tomato sauce, mussels, clams (both fine), shrimps (fine but the dish was removed too quickly), lamb chops (excellent and perfectly cooked), beef skewers (over-cooked but with excellent caramelized onions), grilled octopus with fries (octopus in tiny over-cooked chunks), and empanadas (excellent).  On the whole, I'd probably suggest just giving it a miss. I've eaten at a vast number of tapas places around the US and it's never really all that good. Always disappointing.

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/5/2011

    I went here several times when I was living in the Gold Coast because it was convenient. The prices are reasonable - you can probably get out of here with drinks and dinner for about $40 per person if you're splitting several dishes.

    Nothing on the menu really stands out, but you're not going to Café Iberico for outstanding Spanish cuisine. The menu is large enough that you should be able to find something for everyone - I usually stick with the patatas ali-oli (potatoes in a garlic mayo sauce), patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), and croquetas de pollo and then see what the rest of the group wants to do. A pitcher of sangria is usually your best bet if you're with a group - it's pretty decent and reasonably priced.

    The restaurant is very large, but gets quite crowded - so either make a reservation or prepare to wait at the bar for awhile (up to an hour). Once you have a table, the service is usually very attentive, but the restaurant can get loud with that many diners in it.

    If you're looking for tapas in Chicago I would probably recommend Café BaBaReeBa instead, but you certainly won't leave hungry at Café Iberico and it may be more convenient than Lincoln Park.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/4/2013
    1 check-in

    I've been here many many times while in college, and so came back here right away now that I recently moved back to Chicago. My roommates were spanish so I was craving some really good spanish food.

    Food:
    MIxed Salad - greens, beets, hearts of palm, with s&p, V&OO, good very large in size can easily split with two, maybe even three people if not want too much salad, liked this a lot, lots of big pieces of beets
    Pulpo a la plancha - Eh, would not order again. it's octopus on top of french fries. i was thinking of another octopus dish, they have three of them, and i think i ordered the wrong one. this one was sliced ocotopus, and really oily. not much grilled flavor. ive had another dish was much better.
    Mussels - wow this was delicious, first time ordering this but i'll keep getting this here now. steamed in great broth, good size mussles and good size dish, the type you want to  keep soaking bread into the size type of dish
    Special Paella of the week - pork ribs - eh won't get again. we tried the special menu pork ribs paella. it was missing some flavor, very oily rice and not much salt or flavor. ribs were so so , oily again.

    Drinks:
    sangria, sangria sangria! They have it by the glass, half pitcher, and full pitcher. obvious the latter the best price. half pitcher was plenty for two of us. great sangria, not too sweet, but not too strong either.

    Too full for dessert...

    Service:
    Not the best, they are always super busy and we went on a weekday. we called ahead to see what the wait was, and she said none, so we walked in 5 minutes later and she told us 20 minute wait. A little odd, and felt fooled. They have a waiting system where you stand around in the bar and your name will be prompted on the tv screens. When our name was called we flagged the hostess and she barely acknowledged us and told us to follow her about another two minutes after that. it was weird. waiter was attentive, and fast, nothing to right home or complain about.

    Overall:
    still one of my favorite tapas restaurants in chicago. I'll go back but know that its not a place to get exceptional service. its loud and bustling so a fun place nontheless. Ba-ba-reeba, is probably better environment, and smaller dishes for your money.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/8/2013
    2 check-ins

    Perfect by all means, I loved the food, the service and the atmosphere!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/3/2012
    1 check-in

    I was surprised.... I hadn't been here in well over a decade, if not longer. It's a very touristy restaurant and I was ready to be completely snobby and critique the food but I was proven dead wrong.

    A large group of us had dinner here after an office boat ride and it was so good.... The sangria was a shade better than okay but maybe I'm just biased because I like my own sangria so much...

    Nevertheless, we had a large assortment of dishes, can't even remember them all, but nothing disappointed. The last tapas place I went to was Cafe Ba Ba Reeba and I say that Iberico blew them out of the water. The paella was good too but do not fill up on paella, there's are so many other good tapas!

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/27/2013

    If you love Spanish tapas then you'll love this place, one of the best in Chicago.

    Try out a variety of spanish dishes here, they are all good, especially the
    - Paella Vegetariana (vegetarian)
    - Paella Iberica (seafood)
    - Gambas Al Ajillo (grilled shrimp)  
    - Pincho De Pollo (chicken)

    Their Sangria is authentic and well made with real fruit and delicious wine.

    The portions are perfect and prices are reasonable.

    We are happy every time we go, and you'll be happy you tried it too.

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/7/2013

    I'm assuming some of you think differently about Iberico. But I have my reasons. The first time I went to Iberico was tonight, and that comes within 10 days of returning from Spain.

    I ordered the red sangria with croquetas, goat cheese tapas, and Jamon Iberico. Nothing, and I mean nothing was good. Literally every tapas place in Spain, even the not good ones, have better tapas than Iberico.

    Maybe it's unrealistic to expect the same taste as in Spain, but if knock outs is what you are looking for, then by all means go ahead, they are not bad.

    Will I to there again though, probably not.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/15/2008

    A theoretical (read fake) average discussion at Cafe Iberico:

    "I think I'm going to write a four star review of Iberico."
    "What?  I couldn't hear you."
    "I said, I'm going to write a good review of this place."
    "What?   I can't hear a word you're saying.  It's so loud in here."
    "You're right.  I'm going to write an three star review of Cafe Iberico."
    "What?"  
    "I'll just shut up and eat this amazing tapas now."
    "Yeah, that waitress is amazingly cute, I would totally tap..."
    "What?"

    Eating at Iberico is sort of like trying to eat tapas at a rock concert.  I went there for a birthday party last night and when we first arrived at about 6:00 p.m., I remembered how much I used to love Cafe Iberico.  We were having a nice dinner over sangria, talking about what most people do at a 30th birthday party but then suddenly the whole thing changed.

    By about 7:00 p.m., our group couldn't hear the person next to them.  We had been sat in the large back room when it was nearly empty but when it was full, it was a cacophony of conversation and Euro music.  I don't even know why they play music overhead because people trying to speak louder and louder to have a discussion even drown that out.

    Still, Cafe Iberico is a great place to go with a large group of people (with how much this place keeps expanding, including having a deli in the back now, I'm amazed there are still waits).  The bill is very easy to split since almost all of the dishes are the same price ($4.95 or $5.95, with some seafood dishes being $6.95) and large enough to split between quite a large group (we had eight and all of us got to sample every dish). Just bring $20 and the check will pretty much wind up splitting equally; no matter how many people are there.  I don't know how this works, but somehow it always ends up true.

    Word of advice: it takes 30 minutes or so to make the paella, so it's a good idea to order this first and then drink sangria before ordering the rest if you want them to arrive at the same time.  The paella is $8.95 (for the vegetarian) to $10.95 but it is gigantic.  

    One thing that I think has improved at Cafe Iberico since I used to be a regular is the selection of vegetarian tapases. From the spicy Patatas Bravas to the zesty queso de cabra (this place uses goat cheese to the best effect I've seen), there is a glut of choice.

    I would have thanked the group I was with for this choice immensely, except they wouldn't have been able to hear me anyway.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/10/2012

    I lived in Illinois most of my life and this is my absolute favorite restaurant EVER!!! I started going to Iberico back in 2005 and never had a bad experience or a bad meal.
    Their food is kick ass, as is their sangria (red, white, it doesn't matter). The clams, mussels, baked goat cheese, scallops, spicy potatoes.... OMG heaven. Day or night, it's always loud and crowded but who cares. I have waited 2 hours just for a bite of clams because they are so freaking good. The service has always been pretty good for me, even when it's really busy.

    I am salivating just imagining being there and recall fondly all the sunny summer days I called in sick so I could come here with my best friend and get a massive buzz off their sangria and wander the city drunk. Ahh memories!

    I live in CA now and miss this place so much. There is nothing even remotely this good out here! I go every time I am back home for a visit and I am never disappointed. You won't be either!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/2/2013

    After a disappointing attempt at another popular tapas place, I wasn't expecting to love this place at all. Since it is a tapas place, I did come with a group of friends. The ambiance is upbeat, fun, and loud. Perfect for the group I was with! Luckily, none of them were picky and we all had similar tastes so we really got to try a variety of items on the menu. I highly recommend the marinaded octopus and garlic shrimp. All of their seafood was delicious, but those two I thought about for days! The sangria is also something you should definitely try. It made for lots of laughs at our table!

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/12/2012
    2 check-ins

    Not quite what it once was, but still the best all-around tapas in the Chicago area.   Drink enough of their delicious sangrias and you may not even want to leave the bar area when your table is ready.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/9/2012

    this place was recommenced from one of my friends.  Place was very crowed and food was great!  a lot of different, unique Spanish dishes.  atmosphere was really nice and pleasant too!

  • 1.0 star rating
    4/15/2012

    Went to dinner tonight with an out-of-town family member and was VERY disappointed.  Our waitress took our order, brought our drinks, and never saw her again until we chased her down for the check.  All of our hot tapas orders were cold (scallops, shrimps, potatoes, french fries).  There was inappropriate videos playing on the TVs above the bar and my husband told me the men's room was absolutely DISGUSTING.  My husband ordered a cup of coffee at the end of the meal and even the coffee was COLD!  

    This has always been our go-to place to take people and we can't believe how poor our experience was tonight.  We'll not be back until they get their act together.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/24/2012

    This is my favorite Tapas restuarant.  The food, ambeience and sangria are always fantastic.  The ambience is fun but it can get pretty loud.  

    I really love choosing Iberico for special group dates or just lunch with a girlfriend on the weekend .  

    There flan is delish!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/22/2012

    We came here pretty recently and thought the food was great. One thing I just canNOT NOT NOT get over is there was no toilet paper in the women's room. Not one square. No. You are an awesome, reasonably priced, popular restaurant and that's not okay.

    Other than that, I loved the food. Particularly the rib entree. Delicious.

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/15/2011

    Enjoyable place to bring a group. They alleviate the wait time by posting your name on their TV screens behind their bar when your table is ready. The upstairs bar is an option for waiting and is usually less crowded.

    The paellla iberica (w/chicken) and roxo adobado (pork tenderloin with fries) were pretty good; everything else was fine too though not outstanding. Did not like white sangria - didn't taste flavorful; red sangria was fine. Service was a little slow, and the restaurant is always noisy, but there is certainly always a lively atmosphere at night.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/19/2012

    I should start off with a disclaimer - I studied in Spain. A little bit of my heart and soul will always be there. When I hear Spanish, especially of someone from Spain, I jump with glee!

    Next disclaimer - I celebrated my 21st birthday here. That was more than a few moons ago (about 10 to be exact :O)!

    I have tried many if not most of the tapas places in Chicago. I am always disappointed  - because I always compare it to Iberico!

    This place is amazing. I have probably tried just about everything on the menu. My favorites are always the jamon cerrano, pulpo a la plancha, my husband (who doesn't do seafood) loves the croquetas de pollo and the raxo adobado. The Sangria is always great and the bill - never ceases to amaze us how low it is!!!

    I love this place and will continue coming back. If you want great tapas and a lively atmosphere, you won't be disappointed!

    YUM. I think a return trip is in order, pronto!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/27/2013

    I went here with a few friends to celebrate a birthday. When we arrive (around 8:30 on a Thursday) there was a 20 minute wait, but seating at the bar. We were able to have a cocktail and appetizer before heading over to our table. After we were seated we were warmly greeted by our waiter. The food was excellent an drinks were always flowing. They removed our dishes just in time and always paid attention to our table. I could not have asked for better service. It was a little loud in the restaurant but went with the atmosphere. I will definitely be returning and recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun tapas restaurant!

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/22/2012

    In Chicago for a meeting and asked the bartender at our hotel where he referred his friends for a unique Chicago lunch.  He told me that one of his favorite places was Cafe Iberico.  His recommendation did not disappoint one bit.  Javier was our waiter and was excellent, professional, pleasant and so helpful. We absolutely loved his recommedation of octopus.  

    I would highly recommend Cafe Iberico to anyone looking for a special Spanish meal.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/20/2013

    Succulent Lamb chops served in sweet sauce base with roasted potatoes, red bell peppers and Fennels. Great tasting. Sangria was really strong, sip slow. Ambience was just OK, my friend thought it was "Hoagy". More on that in her review. Will return to try other items on the menu.

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/4/2012

    Given the downtown address, I was expecting a swanky tapas bar. We walked in at 7PM on a Saturday with no wait (excellent!), but were lead to the dining area upstairs that was crowded with families selecting dishes from laminated photo menus (not so excellent).

    My small table of three didn't get to try many dishes, but it seems that the menu is rather hit or miss. I've never had a so-so dish at Cafe Babareeba, so I may have been expecting the same savory yumminess. We had the scallops, the Duck Salad, the pork tenderloin with fries, and the lamb and beef tenderloin skewers. The service was attentive and fast and all the dishes came quickly. Strangely, they all were a little on the cold side. I really enjoyed the scallops, but I loved the duck. The salad that the duck was on top of wasn't particularly interesting, but the duck was very tender and flavorful. The pork was overdone and accompanied by a very oniony relish and bland fries. The skewers were as expected and came with a small serving of roasted potatoes.

    The sangria is pretty standard, unlike the creative sangrias at Babareeba.The caipirinha was rather small for $9.

    Iberico seems like it would be ideal for a larger party and I might come back with a big group, but only if I wasn't able to get a reservation elsewhere. The tables with lots of dishes and paella looked very satisfied.

    It seems that Iberico might just be the poor man's Cafe Babareeba.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/6/2014

    Having spent over a year living in Spain, I was so excited to see cafe iberico just a few blocks from my new apartment. Unfortunately, the experience did not live up to my expectations. The wait between dishes was inexplicably slow (we came on a slow weekday afternoon) and yet many of our dishes arrived lukewarm or cold. Sad to say I'll be venturing further afield next time for the true Spanish experience.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/6/2013
    1 check-in

    Heard it was the best Tapas in town so visited. We had a large group and a fairly early dinner because we had other places to go. Place was fairly empty when we arrived and we had a LOT of great tapas. It was kick ass. And by the time we left, the place was packed. And it seemed to be packed with a lot of Spaniards. I'm told that a lot of folks from Spain in Chicago swear by it. Atmosphere is nice, approachable and not at all pretentious. Some restaurants might take a place like this and move it a couple blocks east (off LaSalle) to be able to price things through the roof. I like that they haven't done that. They aren't about being "cool" they're about doing tapas right and lots of it. Sangria was fantastic.

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/18/2012
    1 check-in

    I was expecting great things from Cafe' Iberico after hearing suck rave reviews from my friends. I must say i was quite disappointed however. I heard the Tapas here was resonably priced and the quality was great for the money. I found quite the opposite however. The beef dish I ordered was small and way over priced. A bite of skirt steak for $8 are they crazy. I can get a whole skirt steak at any greek resturant and it would have been better quality and a much bigger portion for the money. I also ordered the goat cheese which was quite good. They only gave me a few pieces of garlic bread and when I asked for more they actually charged me $3. Seriously... The service here was also a bit on the slow side and I feel our refills were ignored because we didn't order Alcohol. Over all I was disappointed with Cafe' Iberico.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/13/2013

    The food is DELICIOUS!! And they're great for large groups!  I couldn't have a party larger than 10 at Frontera, so I searched Yelp and decided on Cafe Iberico.  Ended up having to add a couple tables (it was my master's graduation dinner) and there was no problem at all.  Juan, our waiter=AMAZING!! We didn't get one wrong dish, he let people order at different times, and the bill was correct.  PLUS, he was very attentive to our table and everyone else, and made sure my sangria glass was always full since I was the reason for the dinner, lol.  I had a very large mixture of people and tastes and everyone loved their dishes.  I'd recommend the scallops as a must!  Plus everything else :)

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/4/2012

    This restaurant was so noisy that we left before we even ordered.  I don't mind an energetic atmosphere but the dance music and large groups of people yelling to be heard made it unbearable.

    Hopefully the food is better than the ambiance.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/13/2012
    1 check-in

    Classic casual Chicago tapas spot. Always crowded, very loud, large piles of yummy food, cheesy music/videos, too many TVs, inexpensive. Long waits for a table are the norm, but once you're seated the food comes out quickly.  Recommend octopus, squid, bacon wrapped dates, sangria. If you enjoy people watching and a bustling, chaotic dinner scene, this place is for you.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/16/2012

    Always a classic.

    I've been an avid Iberico regular for over a decade, this place never seems to disappoint with their amazing food and reasonable prices.  I prefer to sit in the main floor near the bar due to the lively crowd and partially loud scenery.  Location is also great if you're planning a night out with friends. Close proximity to River North and the Gold Coast can prove to be advantageous.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/30/2011
    1 check-in

    This place was quite good!  The sangria (red) was great and quite cheap at $15 a pitcher.  We came at around 11pm and this place was really busy, but I like a busy restaurant, as it's a good sign.  

    We ordered the jamon iberico, goat cheese, octopus and fries (FAVORITE!), skewers of quail, conch meat, and dates with ham, garlic shrimp, and beef tenderloin with onions.  The server was very attentive, and friendly.  Everything was really good, and served fast. I would definitely come here again.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/27/2014

    A friend of mine introduced me to this gold mine.  I don't eat dinner in the city but when I do I have my specific places I like to go to.  They don't' take reservations which stinks but can you blame them?  Have to get their red and white homemade sangria when coming here.  If you have a group of people get the pitcher its worth it.  The prices are so reasonable you feel like you're robbing them.  The portions are a good size too.  When I come here with friends we all order to or 3 things each and just share everything.  I love their lady finger tirimausu.  One thing I will say its a very busy and noisy place and not meant to dine for people wanting to have a deep conversation.  Good for groups your friend won't be disappointed that's for sure.  My favorites would have to be the goat cheese with the sauce you dip the bread in.  The chicken kabobs i believe they're with the onions,rice, and sauce to put together.  Ive had quite  a few different dishes there as well.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/8/2012
    1 check-in

    You ever go to a movie expecting to be blown away? I have...I went to see Avatar. In 3D. I spent $15+ on it.

    The same kinda goes for Cafe Iberico (+/-$50) . There's so much hype around the place...and I swear I went in with an open mind and empty stomach. That combination, for me, usually leads to being satisfied. But I honestly don't know what went wrong.

    Maybe it was Jennifer Lopez on the TV and speakers...cuz ya know she's Spaniard...hence her American songs would be played in a Spanish tapas joint.

    Maybe it was the impersonal experience from the wait staff.

    Maybe it was because my friends and I look like we're still in high school, when in fact we are twenty-somethings.

    Maybe it was the Spring Break-type of music videos on the screen that obviously distracted the staff.

    Maybe it was the, dare I say, food.

    Maybe I'm being overly critical. But the food was honestly just okay. My friends and I ordered the chorizo y morcilla, gambas al ajillo, raxo adobado, calamares a la plancha, dates, and the paella iberica. Highlights? I'd say the dates and shrimp. Everything else was ehh. The paella, which we were excited about, was just a bunch of stuff (seafood, chicken, and pork) on a bed of rice that was a little undercooked.

    Staff was, as mentioned above, a little distracted by the scantily clad women on the television screens. Hey, it's entertaining, I get it, but it's gotta be on repeat and they have to have seen it dozens of times before.

    Oh well. It was only my birthday dinner.

  • 1.0 star rating
    2/17/2012

    I don't like giving 1 star reviews, i really like complimenting and giving businesses good reviews when they deserve it. Iberico deserves this 1 star, i'd give it negative stars if i could.  The most TERRIBLE service I've experienced for the last couple years.

    I went in early (6:55) to pre-order a seafood paella, since it takes 40 mins to cook. my party came, we sat down at 7:10, ordered additional small plates. food starts rolling out at 7:25. paella came out at 7:55 (AN HOUR LATER, what's the point in pre-ordering?). I look and it's not what i ordered, it's a veggie paella. whatever, okay, mistakes happen. I pointed it out to the waitress and she paused and knew it was a mistake. she said we could order another paella, but that would mean waiting another 35 min. screw that, since we waited on an hour for the wrong paella. i made it clear i was not happy with coming in early to pre-order for the wrong dish to come out and i would not wait another 35 min. she said she would take it off the bill.

    she came back and asked if we were done. i said yes. she said since they're taking the paella off the order, we wouldn't be able to take the leftover home. fine, okay, no biggie. just give me the check! she comes back and says, "nevermind, you can take the leftover paella home. my manager's going to charge you b/c you ate it." umm, yeah not going to fly. i asked to speak with the manager, b/c clearly there's no use in arguing with a waitress who knows the situation isn't right either.

    the manager comes to our table - no smile, just this pissed off/irritated look. UMM EXCUSE ME? i waited an hour on a dish that was wrong. i explained the situation and what had happened and she said, "yes it was a mistake, but you should not have ate it." i went there specifically to eat a damn paella and she tells me i would have had to wait over 30 mins for a new f"ing order. that's ridiculous. ultimately, she took it off the bill. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. i've been in the service industry before, THEY SUCK and NEED TO LEARN HOW TO TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/22/2010

    Oh boy. Rarely does a restaurant bring tears to the eyes--in such a very, very good way! My friend and I, who have both spent some relatively serious time in Spain, well up each time we talk about our dinner at Iberico. Seriously, folks. It's the real deal at the CI.
    We went on a Friday night in February. The place was rockin', and I can't remember if we had a reservation or not, but, we were seated promptly and had wonderful service. Everything was great: the ham! the squid! the goat cheese! the wine!
    So go. Just go. You're going to be glad you did.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/9/2011

    A friend of mine just asked me to remember what that great Spanish/Tapas restaurant was that we ate at the last time we were in Chicago.  I scoured my reviews and could not believe that I have not reviewed Cafe Iberico.

    I still remember how great the cozy atmosphere was and the the food was delicious.  Sorry though, I don't remember what the dishes were that we had, but the overall experience was definitely repeatable.

    I guess my 200th review is of a place I was last at a year and a half ago...

    DT.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/30/2012

    I can't say enough great things about this place. We finally gave it  a try this past Sunday and I am glad we did: Great food, nice staff and very reasonable prices. We ordered a few small dishes from each section of the menu and they were all delicious. The grilled squid and the grilled sausage combo were my favorite appetizers. The Iberico Paella was another highlight, delicious and worth waiting 40min for :-) The tides were high already, but they picked with the dessert: The crepes with vanilla ice-cream and raspberry sauce was my favorite, whereas the chocolate flan was my husband's and neither one of us wanted to share. Parking was easy, just off the side of the street and the service was very pleasant as well! We will definitely go here again!

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/7/2014

    Hands down best tapas bar in Chicago.  Hands down best octopus appetizer I have ever tried.  This place never disappoints.  Great casual place for families, but go early because the dressed-up party crowd comes later and its crawling with people.  I generally go there in the eve, you have a wait, but it is always fun to people watch and drink while you wait.  I will say I DO NOT like their sangria.  It is too bland for my taste.  But they have a good wine list and good drinks overall.  I have only had tapas their but everything is finger-licking good---like their mushrooms, queso de cabra, shrimp.  Yummy!

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    2/28/2011
    Listed in Date Night!

    Cute restaurant. Nice servers. Quick seating (I'm assuming only because it was a weeknight)

    Great food :)
    PATATAS BRAVAS ~ Spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce = Delish!
    QUESO DE CABRA ~ Baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce = Wow! And the little bread triangles that they serve with it are amazingly good!
    CALAMARES A LA PLANCHA ~ Grilled squid with olive oil, garlic and
    lemon juice = Little squids of heaven. Super tender!

    Even better sangria! Try the red :)

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/19/2013

    Octopus, squid, paella, sangria -- all so freaking delicious.  Good place to come whenever I get nostalgic about food I had in Madrid and Barcelona.

    Best place for Spanish food/tapas in the city.  Only other place that I'd say is comparable is Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, which is just as good, although it's further up north.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/14/2012
    1 check-in

    Always great.

    The white Sangria is the perfect summer cool down.

    I love the following menu items...

    QUESO DE CABRA
    GAMBAS AL AJILLO (dip the bread in the sauce!)

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/24/2013

    I love this place! The sangria is tasty and their food is delicious. The portion sizes are not small in comparison to other tapas places. You just can't go wrong with Cafe' Iberico! It's the best!

  • 1.0 star rating
    3/14/2012

    The food here was meh. The service was APPAULING.

    I came here with my boyfriend and parents this past weekend.

    We were seated immediately, and then ignored. Our server was very brief with us and acted like he didn't care. We ordered 9 dishes to share. They came out rather promptly, but with no silverware. We had to specifically requests forks and napkins. WTF???? Our food just sat there and all we could do is stare at it. And not eat it.

    We were ignored for the majority of the evening. Water glasses were not filled and we were not checked on.

    The food was salty and at time flavorless.

    They weren't even busy, yet were unable to provide proper service or decent food. We will most certainly not be back.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/11/2012

    Was in town on vacation for the weekend and my friend took me there for lunch on Saturday afternoon.  Everything the from the place, to the service, to the food was really good.  The white sangria was pretty good.  We had chicken croquetas, crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside they came with an aioli to die for.  The pulpo a la parrilla ( grilled octopus) was by far the best I've had in a long time. Can eat it every day.  We also had the patatas bravas, they were good.  We also had vieiras a la plancha ( grilled scallops) and they were delicious. Seared to perfection with a pimento cream sauce.

    Now I know why my friends love this place so much!

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/3/2010

    I'll add to the endless string of 3 and 4 star reviews.  Went here for a quick dinner before the Bon Jovi show Friday night.   Was surprised to walk in at 6 PM and find a ton of open tables available to just walk in.   Had the red sangria which was good and got much stronger as the pitcher disappeared.   We shared the Jamon Iberico (good cheese/ham plate), Pincho de Solomillo (the meat was exceptionally tender but not super flavorful), Croquetas de Pollo (nothing exceptional), and a weekly special of a pork loin in a cherry sauce (exceptional).  

    In the end what I found were the actual dishes were good, not great but the sauces that accompanied them were knock outs.  The price was right and for once, we ordered the right amount of food at a tapas place.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/26/2013

    Ate here for dinner last night and was not disappointed!  I went with a friend and we had 4 different hot plates which were all great.  The spicy potatoes were amazing, what a great sauce.  The dessert I had was a caramel covered banana with ice cream and WOW! was it good!  Highly recommend.  Great staff, fast service and great environment!

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/25/2013

    Paella was superb. No kidding. The octopus was cooked quite well also. The sangria was average and the ambiance is simple and unassuming. I'd recommend if for an easy dish or two, with some casual friends.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/26/2010

    It's hard to believe I've been coming to Café Iberico for nearly 20 years.

    Back in the day, tapas were groundbreaking. There weren't any places serving "small plates" and capitalizing on that trendy food description like there are now.

    When Café Iberico first opened, I went often. It was dirt cheap, still a small place in a fairly uncharted area of downtown, and no one knew about it. It was like having a special secret.

    Fast forward two decades and everyone and their mother knows about this place. The place has tripled in size, and sadly, the food is just not as good.

    I went for lunch today after previously only going in the evening. Wow. It's like a completely different place in the cold light of day. Acceptable decibel levels and no wait for a table.

    Moving on to the food. The three of us ordered Champinones a la Plancha (grilled mushrooms), Croquetas de Pollo (chicken and ham puffs), Raxo Adobado (grilled, marinated pork tenderloin) Queso de Cabra (baked goat cheese), Jarrete de Cordero (roasted lamb shank), Pincho de Solomillo (beef tenderloin skewer) and Ensalada de Alcachofas (marinated artichokes).

    Some dishes were good, some were decidedly mediocre.

    The beef tenderloin was really good, especially the fries that accompany it. The pork tenderloin was dry, and the sauce on it was overpowering.

    Grilled mushrooms were good. Not much you can do to screw those up.

    Artichokes were a tad drowning in vinaigrette, but still tasty. I always enjoy a good artichoke and these delivered.

    Baked goat cheese - this hasn't changed much in all the years this place has been around, and that's a good thing.

    The lamb was quite salty, and I am a liberal user of salt. Maybe the salt use was intentional as it just made me down more sangria.

    The sangria: this is what CI is known for and justifiably so. It's fruity, it's sweet, it goes down easily. I don't normally drink alcohol at lunch, but hey, it's Friday, I'm leaving early, so why not?

    Café Iberico is hit or miss. It's inconsistent. You just never know if you'll have a great meal or just an average one.

    Give it a try if it's convenient. Most likely, you will come here with out-of-towners as they're always hot to try this place, but it's no longer a destination restaurant for me.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/23/2011
    2 check-ins

    If you ask my bf, he would tell you that I love this place. I don't remember how many times I've been here...but I can tell you that this is usually the place we pick for big celebrations.

    I don't really care about the service as long as they bring me my food and refill my water. I don't need to be treated like a queen. Also, try to avoid this place on weekends because waiting while you are hungry can be quite frustrating, and the waits can get long. We've literally never had to wait on week nights.

    Some of my fav. that I order all the time:
    Ensalada Mixta--I love beets and avocado. enough said.
    Pulpo a la pancha
    Champinones a la pancha
    Seafood paella

    One time we ventured outside of our usuals and got rabbit meat in a creamy beer sauce from the special menu. The bf definitely enjoyed it more than I did--must be a guy thing. Rabbit meat is just too weird for me...

    And if we are in the mood, we always share a pitcher of sangria--bf likes red; I prefer white.

    The atmosphere is lively. I love sharing food--it's just an Asian tradition to order many different dishes and share them with good friends and family. I think that's why I love tapas so much.

  • 1.0 star rating
    12/10/2011

    Back in the day, Café Iberico was great. Their quality has gone so far down hill that I will never go back there. Last time I was there, they served us a tortilla española that was so chalky it was inedible. It had clearly been frozen or sitting out for a lonnng time before it was served to us.

    Then, they brought out some jamón ibérico, but it looked like it was albino as it had zero color. Spanish ham is supposed to be dark and rich in color, this was far from it. When it's cut fresh from the cured leg, it's rigid, not floppy like uncooked bacon (and Iberico's "ham").

    Café Iberico is currently riding on their own coat tails of success from their glory days; those days are over. Vera is definitely the only place I'll go to for tapas these days (read my review here babbleandbezotes.com/201…)

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/9/2013

    Loved this spot! Great tapas and very reasonably priced! Everything about this place invites you to come back soon from the service to the upbeat atmosphere.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/12/2012

    some of the best authentic tapas in the city. While the service was a little slow and they messed up our order a bit, I still can't wait to come back. The wine specials were such a good deal, and the menu is huge. The ambience made me feel like i was back in Spain and the restaurant is literally huge! It looked like there were lots of big groups, and would definitley come back with a bigger group, mainly so we could try more items.
    My friend and I had the sausage and cheese plate, which was a good selection. We had the clams in green sauce, which were amazing, just like spain. The grilled octopus was amazing, with potatoes, and was a huge portion! (probably my favorite item we had) We also had the special stuffed mussels with shrimp and something else in them. delicioius!
    Cant wait to go back!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/6/2011

    DELICIOUS!!!!  IF this review were just based on the food, I'd give it five stars!  My group ordered about 8 tapas and I can't even decide which was my favorite because they were all so good.  They have a huge variety of tapas and they're really reasonably priced.  Plus, it is hard to find good WHITE sangria, but their's amazing!!

    Lucky for us we had a large enough group for a reservation, but it did seem like there's usually a bit of a wait.  Service is lacking a little - just with refills and checking in.    But, it's a pretty big, fun place - I distinctly remember looking around the restaurant and seeing people laughing and smiling at every table - it's very festive for groups!

  • 1.0 star rating
    1/26/2014

    Tasteless....Went with a big group, as it was a recommended by a few members.  Overall first impression was bad and it did not get better-Bad lighting, dingy decor, dirty bathrooms and menus with pictures that were dirty and falling apart.    I was daring and ate a few bites of several dishes as I didn't want to offend the others who recommended the place.  The seafood paella was dry with overcooked crunchy fish and rice with no flavor.   The oily mushrooms were extremely over sauced and had no texture.   The bread was stale, dry and also tasteless. A potato croquette dish was heavy and one note...fried.   Several of us left hungry..  Not because we didn't order enough tapas but because we didn't like anything!    Service for the group was fine but food and ambiance were just not at all appetizing.  Would never return!

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/26/2012

    This restaurant did not live up to the hype. I took my family here for mothers day/brothers bday celebration. And the only thing that was impressive was the patatas bravas and the oh-so strong mangotini. The place was loud, hot, and crowded.

    I may give it one more chance but my first impression wasnt a good one.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/30/2013

    Hands down one of my favorite places downtown. Awesome food!! I mean awesome!! Priced right, quick accommodating service!! A variety menu where you can't decide what to order! Its OK because it's tapas!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/30/2013

    I don't venture out too much with exotic food but this place was not a let down.  I love the atmosphere in this restaurant and the food is excellent too!  I was not crazy about the service however.  The waiter was good but inconsistent.  It wouldn't stop me from coming back here again tho!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/18/2011
    1 check-in

    OMGGGGG yum...

    1st off 4 of us split 2 pitchers of Sagria, didn't think it was strong... till it kicked in :) All the dishes were really good, I especially liked the spicy potatoes were the booomb! Server was nice and attentive too. Overall great experience, I'll go back to try a few other dishes.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/21/2012

    If I feel like having Sangria, this is the place to go to. Food is good, Staff are friendly.
    What else can you ask for?:)

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/14/2010

    Located just south of Chicago Avenue away from the busy part of River North, they offer valet parking since it can be difficult to find a space around there.  There is a long bar when you enter and plenty of seating in a couple of locations.  

    The half pitcher of sangria is a pretty good bargain for 2 people.  It was nicely chilled and complemented the meal well.  The paella is pretty good.  Their house paella comes with chicken, pork, and seafood plus they have seafood only and vegetarian varieties.  It takes about 30 minutes for that while the other dishes take less than 10 minutes.  The grilled sea scallops are the big winner though.  5 large scallops with a cream sauce over a little rice.  The spicy potatoes with sausage felt like a minestrone soup.  The service was quite good and timely and the price point was pretty fair.  I'll have to come back to try more dishes but will make sure to include the scallops!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/30/2012
    1 check-in

    Came here on a recommendation, and it did not disappoint.  Everything that we ordered was delicious including the Iberico paellea...yum.  Service was efficient.  There is also a tapas bar with mini tapas.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/12/2013

    My favorite everyday restaurant in Chicago is Café Iberico. Not only is their red sangria perfect (fruity and not overly sweet), but I am also pleasantly surprised each and every time I sample one of their new tapas. Authentic decor, vast menu, artisanal bread, competent wine selection, attentive service and cheap pricing has kept me a regular for 7 years.

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/6/2012

    Dare I say, but I believe their entire menu is microwaved to order and there's nothing I hate more than a restaurant that doesn't respect food enough to cook it to order. There's even a microwave proudly displayed front and center in the bar! I guess it's there in case they didn't nuke your food for long enough to add a little heat? Overall the food was bland, underwhelming, and greasy with the flavor of low quality oil. Sangria was no better than the food.

    2 stars only because I cannot PROVE the microwave theory.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/31/2012
    2 check-ins

    I love coming here for tapas! The ambiance is fun and casual.  I just arrived into Chicago late and wanted to eat some tapas and Cafe Iberico was my first choice!  We had the seafood paella, of course!

    - Shrimp (a bit on the oily side but still amazing)
    - White wine clams (amazing)
    - Steak with caramelized onions (amazing)

    We ordered for two and there was more than enough.

    I also got here at 9 pm and the place was packed with people so it's great for a late night stack with friends for dinner and drinks!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/17/2010

    There are few other restaurants that will make you feel like you're in Southwestern Europe than Iberico. I was having flashbacks to the week I spent in Barcelona years ago while dining here.

    There is little about this place that can be said that hasn't been said before.
    I would like to add that if you're coming here without reservations on a weekend, you'd best be coming after 10 pm. Even then you might have to wait 20 minutes.

    Also, some of the cold dishes will have a large amount of diced peppers. Most people are ok with that, but I'm the type of person who'd buy out the entire supply of Pepcid at Walgreens after I had finished all those peppers. Thus, tell them go easy on the peppers if you're like me.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/3/2013

    Definitely a "meh" restaurant. In fact, my husband and I said "meh" a few times while here. There was nothing terribly wrong or offensive with the food, but it was just fine. Our server was very nice, but nothing about Iberico inspired me to return. We didnt care for the atmosphere, particularly the weird ass music videos playing. I would skip this one, and we will not be returning.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/9/2010
    3 check-ins

    For some reason, this is my fav tapas place in the city thus far.  They have the most reasonable prices and bigger portions than others I have tried.  The price, food and memories over the years keeps this place close to my heart and it's always the first place that comes to mind when speaking anything tapas.

    They have the BEST croquettas.  No where else comes close to theirs.  They also have delish mussels and this garlic pepper shrimp that I love.  And I'm not much of a shrimp eater.  I also love the goat cheese, mushrooms, patatas bravas, beef skewer, and chicken skewer with rice.  Those are the usual suspects when ordering and I always try to get something new to try, which isn't hard when in a big group.  

    Tapas is an obvious choice to go for bigger groups - it really hardly ever comes out to more than $20 - $30 a person for food and sangria.  I always leave full and tipsy.  My kind of night.  It's def more of a chick thing tho as I have had complaints from my male buddies just b/c of portion - but that's only when we're in a smaller group.  It will def get pricey when it's just two ppl dining and you go overboard ordering...lol.

    They do lack the variety of sangria flavors and amazing garlic potato salad that Ba Ba Reeba has to offer, but that's no biggie.  Everything else rocks.

    The only thing that sucks is that they have a wait almost ALL of the time.  And they only take reservations with a BIG party or on weeknights, I think.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/1/2011
    3 check-ins

    After 950+ reviews, what more can be said about Cafe Iberico?

             I come to you with this review after dining at Iberico about 40 times now and having tried everything there is on the menu (including various chef specials) over the course of 4 years.
     
            If you want suggestions as for what to order, I'll go ahead and knock that out of the way before beginning my review: spicy potatoes, seafood paella, Estrella beer, garlic shrimp, grilled octopus, beef tenderloin and then the lady fingers dessert if it is available.

           Cafe Iberico is the place for large group of friends or that random encounter with a woman you may or may not like, but you don't want to call it a date and it appears you're having dinner and drinks: but it's not a date. Just about all of the food is delicious and exploding with various contrasting flavors. In my 40 times there, I have yet to experience a bad time. The service is extremely attentive, the food comes out rather quick (with the exception of paella: takes about 20-30min), and the atmosphere is loud and ruckus as you'd expect in the streets of Madrid after a Futbol victory.

          Don't look for anything romantic here, but definitely make it a place for a group of friends to meet up or if you're trying to break the ice with an opposite sex acquaintance. You'll eat interesting food and if you want to meet interesting people, please dine at the bar. You may meet the most interesting man in the world...or me. Enjoy.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/9/2013

    Another good tapas restaurant although the atmosphere isn't as good as Ba-Ba-Reeba. It gets quite crowded. I recommend the PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO. The sangria was quite good as well!

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/3/2013

    Their tapas prices are like other places, but they pile on the good food. Every dish is flavorful and different, but I highly recommend the Goat Cheese hot tapas. With a huge dining room, the ambiance is raised and busy. You will get your money's worth here.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/3/2013

    Meh! Should really be 2 stars, but the waiters were cool with me just pointing at the menu instead of trying to pronounce everything

    ordered 4 items and tasted several more and nothing stood out... The seafood salad was mostly bell peppers and a pool of blah dressing, the lobster bisque was fishy and funky (ok so I'm spoiled by Santa Barbara's lobster bisque, but still, wth is it fishy?!), the goat cheese and tomato thing was pretty good, but I didn't feel like forcing others to try it (like I usually would), and the mushrooms, were well, mushrooms...a Chinese buffet can't even f that up! My friend loooooved the croquette things but the sauce was what saved it from tasting like corn dog batter.

    Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but I probably won't be back...unless another friend wants to celebrate their bday there again.

    Also, valet is $11.99 but I just did the pay to park on the corner of Lasalle and Chicago, but it's free after 9pm anyways...oh, and the white sangria is easier to drink than red, IMO...(duh)

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/26/2010

    Finally, I have experienced Iberico!  For years, the SO has raved about it, lamented the fact that he hadn't found its equal in other cities.  Our first stop after dropping our bags at the hotel was lunch at Iberico.

    The menu is traditional tapas served in a rather rustic fashion.  You won't get the fancy presentation you might find at a Jose Garces restaurant, and they don't seem to mess with the traditional dishes.  Portions are large and meant to be shared, not bite-sized at all.  The patatas bravas were good, the mushrooms excellent, and the tortilla espanola fresh and tasty.  

    Surprisingly, the standout of our meal were the olives.  They might just be the best olives I've ever tasted. They were marinated, but they flavors were not overpowering.  We had far more in our order than we could eat at lunch, so we brought them back to the hotel and enjoyed them throughout the weekend.

    We also got a pitcher of sangria.  It was good and light and far too much, necessitating a nap immediately following lunch.

    Chicago, you've got a good thing in Cafe Iberico: reasonably priced, well-prepared Spanish tapas dishes served in a friendly, family-style restaurant.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/21/2013
    1 check-in

    The place was nice. Tasted the Sangria which was good wasn't that sweet. Hope to come back to Chicago and go back to Cafe Iberia. The Bar tender was super friendly.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/14/2012

    So delish! Felt like I was back in Spain with Tapas and Sangria!!  

    Mussels were huge and so flavorful, broth was worth slurping up

    Garlic Mushrooms and Octopus were another hit.  Octopus was SO tender, amazing.

    Sangria was good as well, get the pitcher, much more worth your money!!

    Would definitely go back to try more!!!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/27/2009

    I'd been meaning to come to Cafe Iberico for quite some time, but I'm not in Chicago too often and when I am, I tend to eat home-cooked meals, but I finally made it out and was pleased with my meal here.  I came with my siblings and we were ravenous when we got there, so we ordered pretty quickly (and the pictures on the menu helped!).

    We got the tostadas de pisto first -- bread with veggies on top in the cold app section.  Pretty good and went fast!

    Then we got the scallops in the saffron sauce.  The scallops would've been nicer if they were seared a bit more I think but overall they were good and the sauce plus the spanish rice were really good.

    Last of the tapas was the patatas bravas, which had a good spice to it.. was a lot of potatoes though and really filling.

    Finally, what I'd been waiting for: paella iberica, which is their paella with chicken, seafood, and pork -- I'd say it was good but a little disappointing because it wasn't crispy on the bottom so it could've been cooked awhile longer.  I didn't like the pork in it and maybe it could've used some sort of zing or something by adding andouille sausage instead?

    Finally, we ended on arroz con leche at my brother's request, which tasted like arroz con leche usually does and they give you a good portion.

    Overall the food was pretty good and pretty cheap for tapas/paella!  I think I'd try another place next time though since it didn't blow me away.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/4/2013

    Never had a bad meal here.  My favorites are (in no particular order): red sangria (obvi), gambas al ajillo, patatas brava, queso de cabra, vieiras a la plancha.  Get them all.  You will not regret it.  My favorite tapas!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/30/2012

    This place is amazing! Start with a pitcher of sangria and you won't be disappointed. I love the small pitcher of sangria for about 4 glasses. Try a little bit of everything because it's all good and end with cafe con leche!

    I wish they took reservations, although when we arrived at 5:30 on a Saturday, we were seated immediately for a party of 10.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/5/2012
    3 check-ins

    Something about the atmosphere at this place that I like...always lively and I like to run into people I know.  

    I order different things every time I go...grilled shrimp, mussels, calamari, spinach salad are my faves along with the red sangria. I don't go here often but when I do, it's always a good time.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    10/4/2011

    I love this place!!! My girlfriend and i ordered a bunch of tapas and loved it all. The flavors were just so unique and tasty.

    Our original plan was to come here for some small tapas since we weren't that hungry but wanted a snack. These tapas were way bigger than we thought, which was good since they were a little pricey.

    i highly recommend the following as they were so yummy

    -"PULPO A LA PLANCHA" Grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil.. my favorite

    -"MEJILLONES A LA MARINERA" Steamed mussels with marinara sauce. .. i wanted to drink the marinara sauce cuz it was soo good

    -Crab Salad Bruschetta thingie with roasted peppers on top .. it was a weekly special.. if they have it, get it

    We ate as much as we could and took the rest to go.. After a wild night out,  we finished the leftovers while watching Beauty and the Beast.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/16/2012

    By far my favorite Spanish tapa place in Chicago! even though a few dishes were misses, overall there were many highlights that made my night!
    We went as a group and got to sample quite a few dishes
    highlight:
    paella -- solid! very flavorful with all the goodiness of clam and pork fuse with the rice underneath
    bacon wrapped date-- this is my must-have whenever I see it. So far I love Iberico's the best! Bacon is much less greasy and the date is not soaked with honey, which are common mistakes seen with this dish
    sangria- we got the one with red wines and asked for a second pitcher!! Don't have to say more about how much we enjoyed it
    grilled mushroom - didn't know mushroom can be this tasty! They are tiny little cute goodiness in a metal pot. the gravy is flavorful, but not too heavy. Well done!
    Spanish sausage platter-- on par with Publican's sausages. better yet, Iberico grill their sausage to have a charred skin and tender inside. Can't ask for more :)

    nah:
    grilled octopus with fries? really? can you think of something less lame?
    beef tenderloin with potato and baby carrot-- I admit beef is not the strong suite of a Spanish restaurant. 'nough said

    Would def come back!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/30/2012

    I hold a special place for Tapas given it was the menu for my wedding.
    We went on a Saturday afternoon shortly after they opened because we were out and about.
    The restaurant had only a few others inside and they placed 4 of us in the back far corner by the air...and it was a tight squeeze to get into the table.
    Ok, come on Iberico...reallly?!  there were only 500 other open tables!
    I worked in the restaurant industry, I get the whole "section" thing for waiters and waitresses but stillll, that was annoying.
    We moved to another table and orderd away.

    White Sangria - SO good! Loved it!
    Bacon wrapped dates were by far my fave, they were so good and served with a rice.
    Patatas Ali-Oli - also, really good - not too much garlic.
    Salpicon Del Marisco - love the seadfood combo, really good!
    We also had toast pieces with beef tenderloin on top.  I would probably skip this next time.  The toast was a little too soggy.
    We had a puffy pastry which was filled with shrimp - it was also very good.

    Of course we had dessert which was the banana covered in caramel with vanilla ice cream. Also chocolate cake with hazelnut.

    I didn't care for the banana but I don't like bananas too much.  The cake was ok too.
    I would say, have Tapas here and get dessert elsewhere.

    There were 4 of us and the amount was perfect for all of us, we were so full by the time we left.

    I like Iberico and would consider it some of the better tapas I've had in the city for sure.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/8/2012
    1 check-in

    I was a little hesitant to try Spanish food in Chicago, having been blown away by the food in Spain itself, but the tapas at Cafe Iberico didn't disappoint.

    My friend and I stopped here for lunch on our way to Lollapalooza. First of all, we didn't receive a single judging look for our less-than-appropriate outfits, so mad for the staff's composure there. We were sat promptly in their cafeteria-like dining area and barely had to wait a minute before the pitcher of sangria (decent, but not the best I've ever had) we ordered was on our table. Great service!

    We immediately jumped into our food order, which consisted of patatas bravas, croquetas de pollo, pulpo a la plancha, and the paella iberica. Their menu is so extensive that whittling down our order to those four dishes was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Luckily, we made the right decisions -- everything was great. The patatas bravas were roughly the size of a small mountain. They were seasoned well, but a little overfried. The croquettes were good, but nothing remarkable; the croquettes at Porto's in LA are still the best I've ever had. The octopus was fantastic -- perfectly charred and seasoned, and atop a bed of deliciously soggy fries, I could've eaten three orders of those. By the time the paella came around we didn't have any more room in our stomachs (this seems to be a disturbing trend for me). It was good, but it tasted a little generic -- almost like something you'd make from a box.

    While Cafe Iberica isn't the best Spanish food I've ever had, it hit the spot at the time and I would certainly go back again if I were in the area.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/17/2013

    Loved everything we had. The bacon wrapped dates were the best. For dessert we had the banana, caramel, ice cream dish. Fabulous!

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/26/2013

    I have been to Cafe Iberico many times over the years.  And, many times over the years I've waited for at least 1 1/2 hours to get a table.  I've sent many of out of town visitors to Iberico for the great food at very reasonable prices as well.  Last night, however, may have been my last visit and I will likely never recommend it again.  

    We were very excited there wasn't a wait at 7:30 on a Friday night.  My husband and I were quickly seated and we were very happy.  The server came over and we ordered drinks which he promptly brought.  We ordered goat cheese, dates, olives and a veggie empanada.  The olives arrived quickly and 10 minutes later the dates.  However, the goat cheese and empanada were no where to be found.  The olives were just okay and the dates were burnt and tasteless.  The rice with the dates wasn't seasoned.  

    We flagged down our server to order the octopus, mussels and ribs which he wrote down and was gone.  He didn't ask us if we'd like another drink (which we would have since we were childless for the weekend - yay!) and didn't check to ensure we had received our entire order.

    The mussels, octopus and ribs came out quickly but still no goat cheese nor empanada.  The mussels were plentiful and the sauce was tasty.  The octopus has always been a favorite but was greasy and not seasoned.  We flagged down the server again and told him the goat cheese and empanada had never arrived (over 30 minutes later).  He quickly left - again not asking us about drinks - and didn't give us an opportunity to even order another round.  The goat cheese and empanada came to the table minutes later but they were cold and unappetizing.  The goat cheese wasn't even warm and the toasts were hard.  The empanada probably would have been really good had it not been ice cold.  The server never checked back with us.  We had to flag him down to get the check.  

    Overall, the food was not flavorful, not well seasoned and not appetizing.  The service was mediocre at best.  Very disappointing that an old faithful is no longer going to be on my list.  There are too many other restaurants in the city that will fill my tapas craving.  Cafe Iberico is mailing it in.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/7/2010

    Everything we tried was pretty good here, but it wasn't amazing. Service was a bit spotty being a busy Saturday night, but our server was friendly and energetic when he did come around. The noise level is loud and you have to scream to talk to each other. They have a nice bar area separate from the dining room as well. Busy Fri/Sat nights so if you're a large group, make reservations.

    - Ensalada de Vegetales: grilled veggies, good variety, yum
    - Salad: some greens and raw veggies, dressing was good with a slight kick
    - Chorizo & Patatas: sauce was delicious (dip the bread in it), sausage & potatoes OK
    - Jamon Iberico: not that great, tomatoes were a bit off tasting, the ham & cheese were ok
    - Seafood Salad: refreshing and light, really good!
    - Paella Marinera: seasoned well, seafood was OK but not that fresh, takes a while to cook so grab some tapas to start with
    - Sangria: OK, i've had better

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/3/2008
    1 check-in

    I love coming here with friends and family to eat. We just order different dishes and god knows how many pitchers of sangria. I'm not a big fan of red wine (But that doesn't mean I won't drink it) and they had white wine sangria and....YUM!

    Some of my favorite dishes:

    JAMON IBERICO
    Spanish style cured ham with manchego cheese and tomato bread.

    PULPO A LA PLANCHA
    Grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil.

    My brother and I call them octopus fries now. =)

    and for dessert:

    FILLOA DE HELADO Y CREMA
    Stuffed crepe with ice cream topped with whipped cream and strawberry sauce.

    It can get very crowded and the wait can be very long. The last two times we tried to go, it was over 2 hours wait so we did end up going elsewhere. Once was a Saturday and once was a Sunday, but it was a holiday next day.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/12/2011

    The service was pretty terrible - granted I was in a big group, but still.

    I like the atmosphere.

    Only a few dishes stood out.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/21/2013

    Tasty and abundant tapas at Iberico. The goat cheese with tomato melts in your mouth while teasing your tongue with oregano. The octopus on potato comes out canapé-styple on toothpicks, but I'd recommend more sauce with it. Lovely atmosphere and great sangria that is only $18 for a large pitcher. Highly recommend and will return!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/30/2010
    Listed in Nom Nom Nom!

    White. F'in. Sangria. Good stuff.

    Oh, and the tapas isn't too shabby either.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/4/2013

    So let me just begin by saying that my kosher/vegetarian friend was treating me to a belated birthday dinner, so I being a carnivorous lover of bacon didn't have full access to the menu. We had the patatas bravas which were amazing and very spicy (So good that I found the recipe and cooked them the next day for dinner :) ) We had this other thing which was like potato and egg like. It was pretty good but not as good as the patatas bravas. The flan was soooo good. I didn't even think I liked flan but this was soooo good. The flan was nicely complemented with a cup of espresso. The sangria was ok. I've had better. Overall the place was pretty good. I'll have to come back and try some meat dishes. Maybe I'll bump it up a star.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/2/2013

    Fantastic tapas, great for friends hanging out in River North who want something that ranges from a quick bite to a full meal.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/31/2012

    Ahh, Cafe Iberico, how I love your sangria and wide variety of tapas. The Tuna Cannelloni is one of my favorites!
    Only, I remember dining here 10-15 years ago and your prices were so much le$$! Maybe create more Pinxtos that are 1/2 portions of your most popular tapas at 1/2 price?

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/23/2012
    4 check-ins

    Great tapas, and amazing octopus!  Yummy drinks, especially the wine selection.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/26/2012
    1 check-in

    Decent, not super Spanish but reminescent of spanish food.  More for the college or recent grad, especially if you have never been to Spain.  If you have had authentic spanish food before you will be disappointed with the food here.  Many of the items and beer that you remember but the preparation and flavors are not quite there.

    Not too expensive and OK if your taste buds are not tuned to real Spanish food.  I can make most of these items better on my own and that is not a good thing.

    Tables are way to close together and it was very loud for a Wednesday night.  Service is slow.

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/25/2013

    Their food is usually good but it isn't great.  It is a loud place. Their sangria is ok.  For me this is a  a place to be loud and drink sangria not so much to eat - Good to watch a real madrid versus barcelona game

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/28/2011

    here's a good tip. If you have a large party and you 95% everyone will show; tell the ladies at the front desk 50% of the group is already here, they will then escort you to your table instead of sitting at the bar.

    the waiters and waitress are the folks that run this place. they'll take care of all your guests needs.

    good food; the chef coice for large groups removes the hassle of worry'ing  for a large group, sit back and enjoy the spread.

    you got to love the simplicity  of this place the food is awesome and the sangrias is the best.

    prices is reasonable.. enjoy cafe iberico with more than 4 friends no less....

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/22/2012

    Great place to watch a La Liga game. Saturday the place was packed with true futbol fans as we watched Real Madrid and Barcelona battle it out for the championship.
    Decently priced beers ($5.50), cordial waitstaff, at least four rooms to watch the games including upstairs. I didn't get a chance to venture upstairs, so there may be more than one room up there.
    A must visit if you're a futbol fan or craving reasonably priced tapas or both. Can't wait to go back.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/16/2012

    The flavors of ever dish leave you undisappointed.
    Very busy on Friday night.
    Bring friends and have a pitcher of Red Sangria - If your slow drinkers , you can ask for extra ice.
    PATATAS ALI-OLI
    CROQUETAS DE POLLO
    PULPO A LA PLANCHA
    QUESO DE CABRA

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/11/2013

    Ugh. So disappointing. Have been coming here for years. Haven't been in a while. Walked in... totally dead. They tried to seat us upstairs in their PInxtos annex. We declined, as it was not the ambiance we were looking for tonight. Anyway, as I mentioned, the place was not busy at all, but the service was so slow... mediocre at best.  Food cam out and was seriously flavorless.  Will never return.  This place has really gone down hill.  So many other choices in Chicago for tapas... this is now off of my go to list.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/8/2012

    Looks like everyone has similar opinions, as Cafe Iberico is one of the most "famous" tapas places in town. What can I say.....wow! I came here a few weekends ago with a friend from out of town. It was fun to order a bunch of small plates with him and share in the yummy goodness. Our server, Javier B, was very friendly and accommodating. Everything we ordered was delicious and we had a great experience. I've always had a great experience here, and my recent trip was no exception. I think they do an excellent job not only with the quality and authenticity of the food, but also with the service! Thanks, Iberico, for helping me show my out of town friend a bit of Spanish Chicago!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/11/2013
    1 check-in

    Came in at 9pm 10min wait. Not bad food is good. Service was a little slow the past 2 times ive gone in , but I will help with their excuse of they were busy. I will still go back because i enjoy tappas

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/30/2010

    Just had my second experience at Cafe Iberico.  I tend to be a Cafe Baba Reeba loyalist when having tapas, but headed here last night with a group.

    We came in early (5:30 for a group of 10 on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend).  We had no problems getting sat and I have no complaints for service, etc.  We had SO MUCH FOOD and everything was pretty awesome.  I think my favorites included the octopus, the mushrooms, and the seafood paella.  I do not know why anyone would order a salad for tapas, but even the salads were great!  

    The white sangria was a little sweet for my taste (and I love sweet) but the red was great.  Overall, such a fun place for a group, with great food and fun drinks.  Everyone I was with enjoyed themselves greatly.  No complaints from us!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/2/2009

    My roomie's birthday party here was excellent.  I enjoy the tapas, though in the past, having a former companion who hates sharing food curbed that a bit.  Cafe Iberico didn't disappoint.  

    The layout is kind of odd, and the confusion about which door to enter threw me off, but once you've gotten the layout down, the place is very roomy and great for large groups which makes tapas that much more fun.  Our group of 9 had quite the sampling of the menu, but there are still things I'll have to try next time.  Highlights were the roasted mushrooms and garlic, the mussels, and the sangria.  Several pitchers please, we needed to get liquored up before attempting to go ice skating.  Other winners were the half chicken entree which we all sampled and the paella.  The size price ratio was excellent.  We had zero room for dessert.  I'll have to pace myself better on the next visit.  

    It was kind of strange that our waiter disappeared at the end of the meal and never returned until I scowled at him, and some wacko turned off the bathroom light while one of us was peeing (seriously, what is that?!), but we had a great time eating, chattering, and watching racy Spanish music videos.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/2/2012

    Bless it be be the Spaniards, for they are thou who pioneered the ceremony of small plate dining. Tapas are a fun way to eat, plus I love that many restaurants now provide small plate menus. Great way to sample a lot of good food.

    Cafe Iberico has a premium location. Their interior is really nice. It has a older Spanish feel too it, the ceilings are really low, and it's nicely lit. The bar is really cool too. Loud and full of great energy.

    Their Tapas speak loudly about the tradition, cuisine, and history of Spain.

    FOR THE COLD: Ensalada Mixta, Rusta, and De Pimientos are nice veggies to have on the table during your meal. Jamon Iberico is also a nice snacking plate to have during your experience. The Salpicon de Marisco is one of my favorite things to eat, not just here, but anywhere. Love me a good mix seafood salad.

    FOR THE HOT: Queso de Cabra's a nice way to transition from the cold tapas. Who don't love some warm goat cheese on toasted bread??? The grilled Pulpo(octopus), Calamares (squid), or Vieiras (scallop) a La Plancha are a must order. Tapas at their finest hour. For meats, you cant go wrong with the Chorizo Y Morcilla, Raxo Adobado, or Pincho de Sollomillo.

    Cafe Iberico is good traditional tapas in a hot location. As many said, it gets busy. So sit at that awesome bar and have yourself some good Sangria.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/14/2012

    Came here for the food- left impressed by the atmosphere.

    The place has a very lively atmosphere and seems to always be crowded; excellent energy here. The drinks were great, and the large bar makes the long wait for a table unnoticeable. Can't speak for the hyped sangrias as I didn't try any, but the caipirinha was great.

    I found the food to be the biggest weakness here. Not bad by any measure, but after hearing nothing but great things about it, it was slightly disappointing to find it to be just OK. The mushroom dish was tasteless, the seafood salad over-dressed - couldn't taste the seafood! The goat cheese may have been better if it wasn't in what seemed like canned Ragu sauce. The paella iberica was good, as was the lamb shank - but nothing to rave about.

    I'm sure I will be visiting this place again as I like what it offers, but next time it won't be for the food, but rather for the great atmosphere. Here's me hoping that my first visit was just a fluke and that next time the quality of the food will surprise me =)

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/17/2010

    Gotta love a restaurant where the atmosphere is far from pretentious, and the people at every single table are, it seems, engaged in the most important conversation of their lives. Loud and lively, the atmosphere requires you to speak up even if you are talkin' to the friend sitting right beside you! Not only was the food at Cafe Iberico deLiSh, but eating at this restaurant was an experience in itself.

    Though the restaurant is completely full, tapas arrive at our table in record time. The patatas bravas is the first tapas dish to arrive, dropped off by a server who is "hustlin around the dining room with 10 plates of hot food in his arms, one plate expertly stacked on top of the other." bit.ly/cWyNij Impressive!

    The two tapas dishes that I still dream about from Cafe Iberico are the Mejillones a la Marinera (Steamed Mussels with Marinara Sauce) and the Pulpo a la Plancha (Grilled Octopus). I am inclined to believe Cafe Iberico knows their seafood; they sure as heck cook it very well! The mussels are uber tender to the bite, and highly addictive. And the marinera sauce! Infused with a plethora of seafood-y flavours, bread MUST be dipped into it to savour up every last drop. The Pulpo? Superb. "Chopped up in bite-size pieces, the pulpo is juicy and madd tender on the in, yet grilled to charred perfection on the out." bit.ly/cWyNij It's probably just me but, does anyone else love the slight taste of char on grilled foods?! Ultimately, Cafe Iberico is a definite must-eat in Chi City. If not for the food, for the experience.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/4/2011

    During a recent trip to Chicago I ate here due to a recommendation from a friend. We arrived early enough so that we did not have any problems getting seated. By the time we had finished dinner (7'ish), the place was packed and probably had a solid hour wait. The waitstaff was friendly and prompt.

    For drinks, we ordered the Sangria which was fantastic. Dinner consisted of Ternera Asada (Roasted veal served with raspberry vinaigrette) Queso de Cabra (Baked goat cheese) Spicy potatoes and Paella Marinera. The goat cheese and veal really stood out in particular. The goat cheese had great flavor, was creamy, and left you craving for more. The veal was served cold, sliced thin, and very tender with a unique flavoring due to the raspberry vinaigrette. It was quite good. The Paella Marinera was the least spectacular of the dishes. It was somewhat bland, overcooked  and didn't have the quality flavors of the other dishes. With so many other items on the menu, I would hesitate to order it again. For dessert we ordered a sautéed banana, drizzled with carmel. I am not a big dessert eater, but it was very good.

    It was a nice place, with great food and a good atmosphere. As some others have expressed, be sure to arrive early otherwise expect to be in for a wait.

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/10/2012

    The food at Iberico is pretty good - but the service is not. "I have another party waiting for this table" is what the waiter said to our party of 7. (it was a Wednesday night and not that busy) once we paid the bill, the waiter would not let us finish our pitcher of sangria in peace!

    Now, if we were done with our drinks, and not ordering anymore, I understand. But we were not through with our drinks - there was still a half of pitcher left when he started coming over to our table and asking over and over if we needed anything else. Annoying!

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/8/2012

    This is my all time favorite restaurant! I could eat here everyday and never get bored. My favorite tapas include: goat cheese, croquetas de pollo, pulpo a la plancha, canelon de atuna, raxo adobado, and my all time fav: fideau de pasta (not a tapa). The sangria is deeelish. I love having date nights with the hubby here, getting a little tipsy and eating my heart out! Since it is a popular place, it is almost impossible to get a table on a Friday or Saturday after 6 PM. The crowd is young, hip, and very loud. So probably not a great place for a first date, where you'd like to hear what the other person is saying.  

    I cannot believe someone would go so far as to say their entie menu is microwaved! Everything tastes fresh, and the different flavors are a party in your mouth! You can't beat the price, either for such fantastic food! I alway bring my out of town guests here, as should you! It's that good!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/24/2009

    It's almost unnecessary to rate a place with over 600 reviews.
    However, in the neck-to-neck battle of Cafe Iberico verus Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba...... Cafe Iberico definetely wins for its PATATAS BRAVAS.  Mmmm.  They're much softer & creamier here.  (It's kinda like how everyone knows that McDonalds has much better french fries.)
    This restaurant is also roomier, and allows for groups a lot better.

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/28/2012

    Went to Cafe Iberico on a Thursday night a few weeks ago; 6pm drinks and dinner after.
    Our group of four was seated on the south side where the ceiling is lower. The food was great as well as the red sangria but it was so LOUD that our group had the literally SCREAM across the table to hear each other.
    If you go for dinner I recommend sitting in the bar if you want to have any kind of conversation.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/1/2012
    9 check-ins

    One of my favorite Spanish tapas places in town.  

    The grilled octopus on fries is divine, truly the best dish.  

    No other places does queso de cabra or croquetas better.  

    Red sangria?  Arguably the best in Chicago.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/5/2012

    My amigos from Barcelona brought me here when they felt homesick and I have been a big fan ever since.  Although my memories of Spain will always be bitter sweet, I often come here to drink sangria until I forget.  Get some friends and a pitcher of this sweet nectar.   I recommend the jamon iberico, garlic shrimp, papas bravas, scallop in saffron and more sangria.  One thing to consider is that the place is usually packed and tends to be loud.  It is very friendly and open, but not the best for quiet romantic moments.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/8/2011

    Been here more than a handful of times. My favorite hot tapas: Mejillones A La Marinera- steamed mussels with marinara sauce. Their creamy potatoes are fabulous. the lamb-yummy!  
    This place also serves the best olives.
    dessert- flan!
    friendly and attentive staff as well.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/26/2013

    I actually tried Cafe Iberico about a year ago and I'm finally writing about my visit, which was great! My boyfriend and I have tried many Spanish tapas restaurants and Iberico wins for best red sangria, it is just amazing. It is pretty strong but has an amazing taste so you can't tell. I would recommend getting a cab so you can fully enjoy it! They also have the best tapas dish that I have ever tasted- Pulpo A La Plancha, which is grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil. The potatoes and octopus are amazing together! I cannot wait to go back and have that dish again and try a few more as well.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/17/2010

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Chicago. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Queso de Cabra (Goat Cheese), Croquettas de pollo and pretty much any of the Tapas.

    Anyone I bring here or come here with always has a great time. Maybe it's the ridiculous amounts of pitchers of sangria we always have, maybe it's the environment, maybe my friends and I are just that awesome...well it IS that...but I'm pretty sure there's something special about Iberico as well.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/16/2012

    My husband and I took his sister, who was visiting from out of town, to dinner here last night. I've heard lots of great things about their food and really wanted to try it for a while now. We were seated immediately, but it was surprisingly crowded for a late Sunday evening dinner. Unfortunately, we were seated right next to a very rowdy crowd of club goers that were in the process of being over served.

    After several minutes of waiting, our waiter finally came to our table to take our drink order. That really set the tone for the service, lots of waiting around for our waiter. I had to ask other service staff for our waiter at least twice b/c we were waiting so long.  At the end of the meal my husband ordered a cappuccino that he never received. Poor service is a huge pet peeve of mine.

    The only reason I gave this place three stars is b/c of the food. It was super good! It's a shame that the service blew. It was some of the best tapas I've ever had. My sister in law had never had tapas before and she was blown away by how tasty and perfectly prepared everything was.

    I know I'm a tough customer to please, but Cafe Iberico has a great atmosphere, great food, great price point, but pretty lousy service. Diner be ware.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/13/2013

    Last week, I had the Pincho de Solomillo, which is a beef tenderloin skewer with fries and caramelized onions. It was just one skewer, but the onions help to keep you full. The waitress was nice though in letting me try a sample of Ergo wine. I still wish they had more skewers for that price, but the Filloa de Helado y Crema (crepe stuffed with vanilla ice cream and surrounded by strawberry sauce and whip cream) was heavenly and everyone should try it.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    3/16/2013

    Very loud but pleasant environment, good place to go for a fun and chatty atmosphere. We went as a group of 4 and shared all our dishes so the food was minimal but from the 8-10 dishes we ordered everything was beyond delicious. Would go back.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/1/2012

    Should be 3.5 Stars

    The Sangrias are a bit watered down in my opinion, the food is mediocre, but it's good for their prices. Also, parking isn't too bad around here since it is west of Michigan.

    Must Haves!
    -SALMON AHUMADO
    -MEJILLONES A LA MARINERA

    Skip the paella!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/27/2011

    3.5 stars.

    Great location, great portions, great prices, and minimal wait times on the weekend!

    I loved the variety Cafe Iberico had to offer but honestly I thought everything tasted sort of bland. Out of the 9-10 plates I thought that the only ones that stood out were the mussels, mushrooms, and chicken croquettes. Paella was ok. One of the better ones I've had and it was great that they didn't require you to order 2 servings like most places.

    I think babareeba is still my favorite.

  • 1.0 star rating
    3/21/2010

    I've been here 2 times with large groups of friends---good for LARGE (15-20) groups.
    Food is OK, but expensive as tapas usually are.
    Sangria is OK.
    Waitstaff is OK.
    TOO NOISY to converse---that makes me dislike this place immensely.
    I couldn't understand anything being said by my companions or the waitstaff either time that I was there for dinner.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/30/2011

    This was a good tapas restaurant. The food was pretty good and they had a good amount of options to choose from. The atmosphere was very loud. They have dance music blarring and tv's all over the place which I enjoyed, but I could see some people not liking. There wasn't any dishes that I disliked; however, there were also no dishes that "wowed" me. A good place to try if you're in the neighborhood but not worth going out of your way for.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/3/2013
    1 check-in

    This is my favorite Tapas restaurant in Chicago. The food is excellent, service is a bit slow sometimes due to it being packed, but it's fine, they give you bread and olive oil  to munch on while you wait for the food. Too bad Yelp doesn't have a 4.5 star, that's what it deserves.. My favorite dish is the octopus with fries. I also like the clams in wine sauce and the seafood paella. I recommend this place to all my friends who want to try Tapas!

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/4/2014

    I love the place.The food was really good.

  • 1.0 star rating
    5/16/2011 Updated review
    1 check-in

    I am officially over this place. Its always been hit or miss - terrible when they're busy and quite good when they're not. We came by for a late (3-ish) lunch. There were only a few tables taken. The service was friendly, but oddly inattentive for how empty the dining room was. We ordered the potatoes al aioli, octopus with potatoes, and filet with fries. Everything was super oily, the Octopus was slimy, and the filet looked boiled instead of grilled (no sear marks.) Even though it was only 3 dishes, we didn't finish any - the waitress didn't notice and/or didn't want to ask.

    Also, there was something in one of the dishes (I'm thinking octopus) that absolutely did bit agree with me. My gastrointestinal distress has officially close the door to ever coming back here again.

    Update - nearly a week later and my stomach still doesn't feel right. Never again!

    3.0 star rating
    6/25/2009 Previous review
    My favorite tapas place in Chicago. Here's the secret: the busier they are, the worse the food gets.… Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    5/24/2013

    Just recently moved to Chicago for the summer and this was one of the first places U visited! Great food.  great atmosphere, great service. Would definitely come back again!

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/15/2011

    Had dinner at Cafe Iberico on my recent visit to Chicago. It is a tapas style Spanish restaurant. I found it to be a good affordable option in Chicago. The wait wasn't horrible and they have a decent bar area to chill while waiting for your table.

    Service: The service was satisfactory. We were seated quickly (30 mins) for a Saturday night with a party of 5. Drinks were re-filled and menu was explained.

    Food: The wood was decent. We ordered several tapas for the table and shared. We had the pork tenderloin, beef kabob, the chorizo, mushrooms, and paella. The food was tasty and quite filling. We also ordered a pitcher of white sangria for the table, which I thought tasted great.

    Cafe Iberico is a good affordable place to grab dinner with friends. Its great for a light dinner and some drinks. Its an awesome place to share dishes, drinks and some conversation.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/13/2012
    1 check-in

    Last night I went here with my favorite eating buddy.  We both love Tapas (our favorite probably being Tapas Barcelona in Evanston).

    The sangria was solid.  Not earth shattering but it certainly served it's purpose.

    Of the dishes we had, the seafood salad was underwhelming.  The grilled octopus with potatoes was delicious, although potatoes is a little misleading.  It reality it's octopus mixed with thin home made fries  -  and surprisingly good combo.

    We finished with the lamb shank.  The shank itself was to die for  -  everything a shank should be.  HOWEVER:  for reasons that neither of us could figure out, they surrounded the shank with this overly sweet, tangy, shallow dark sauce that would remind you of ketchup.  Not something I want on my shank.  But again, I was determined not to let anything distract me from that tender, succulent shank.

    All in all, I'd say Iberico is ok, but not great.  I've been before and was never really amazed.  The waiter was absent from time to time.

    I'll go back but it wont be my first choice.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/18/2010
    Listed in Eating off the El.

    This is by-far my favorite tapas restaurant in Chicago.  I'm no expert, but as far as I'm concerned, there's no where else.  The prices are reasonable, the food is great, and service impeccable.  As mentioned before, this place is a mad house on the weekends.  Be prepared to wait.

    By the El: Two blocks east of the Chicago stop on the Brown Line.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/20/2013
    1 check-in

    You have to get here early, it is noisy, no reservations excepted you may have to wait but Dear Heaven. If you like it hot, ask for a kick with the garlic shrimp. Don't pass up the Palaela (I like the seafood). You must have the mussels, so tender and perfect in its natural sea brine and tomato, garlic sauce. Beef and pork croquet's. I love tapas, I love Iberrico, the wait staff is hit or miss but the food is always on point.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/16/2013

    I've eaten here several times and I think this will be my last. I think the food is great!  I've had most of the items on the menu. The service is mediocre at best. The bitches at the hostess stand need to be fired. They are completely miserable. The place is popular so tables are crammed everywhere, it's loud, it sounds like a dance club, it is what it is I guess. My waiter sucked. I asked for water, clean plates, and forks about 3 times. I spent 68 for the 2 of us including a pitcher of sangria (tip not included). The sangria is made in large garbage cans but it's very tasty.  Again the food is great, but I've been here enough times and the menu is exactly the same. There are a lot of choices and service is key so I would say you are better off at another restaurant

  • 1.0 star rating
    6/14/2011

    I've had decent experiences here.  So, when I booked a reservation for myself and several others for an event for my department at school, I was expecting only one potential downer: the fact that this place gets very crowded.  Plus their idea of authentic music is to play Ricky Martin loudly.  Still, the food is decent, the staff is helpful and it's not expensive.

    Unfortunately, something entirely different turned out to be our buzzkill.  Instead, after we had been there for a while, we were asked by a manager to leave.  Because there were people waiting for tables.  Wait, what??  We just spent $250 at the restaurant that employs and you're asking us to leave?  She offered to comp us drinks at the bar, but for a group of 6 or 7, we weren't exactly going to be able to talk to each other standing at a bar in an extremely crowded restaurant.  This was also kind of embarrassing for me and my party, as we were there in honor of a visitor to the department.

    I guess, though, the only person who should really be embarrassed was that manager.  Because that was pretty poor customer service.  And we're not planning on returning.

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/1/2010

    I had really high hopes for this place but it was just ok for me.  Quick note, they don't take reservations for Fridays and Saturdays; they do on Sundays, but only for parties of 6 or more.

    We stopped by Sunday night around 8pm and the wait was about a good 35 minutes. It was a busy night, the service was a bit slow. Started off with the obligatory Sangria, it was very tasty. For dinner, we got the Patatas Bravas (spicy potato with tomato sauce), it was probably my favorite item of the night. Potatoes were roasted to perfection, the spicy tomato sauce was very tasty;  also got the Pincho de Pollo, the chicken itself was ok, but the dipping sauce made the difference;  grilled Salmon was good, but nothing spectacular;  had high hopes for the Raxo Abobado (marinated pork loin), it was overcooked and the fries were lukewarm.  Of course, we had to try the Paella, a bit disappointed,  the Mussels were overcooked so it was very rubbery, chicken and sausage was dry but the rice was undercooked. Food portions are pretty large. I think 2-3 dishes is more than enough for two people.

    The place was very crowded and insanely loud. I wouldn't recommend this place if you're looking to have an actual conversation during dinner. I would probably try the place again, but on a week night and during off peak hours.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/4/2009

    I had dinner here last nightt with my dear mom!  I am a huge fan of tapas and have had the best tapas one night in Barcelona, Spain!  The tapas here are a close second to the tapas I had during my very last night  in Spain.  

    Chicago is such a great town and since this is only my second time, I wanted to enjoy as much food as possible.  After reading Rachel Dratch's celebrity itinerary on Concierge preferred, I decided to try this place out.

    Moms and I grabbed a cab and hightailed it over here and were greeted by two lovely hostesses who seated us right away.  The prices are reasonable, we ordered the paella which was only $10.95 which is a steal cause the cheapest paella i can find in SF is $20. Their paella was delicious!  I am still pining for it a day after... We also had the goat cheese with bread, calamari, some shrimp dish and everything was wonderful!    Also, the atmosphere is great - I loved the music and the lively vibe.  If my husband is with me next time I visit, I will definitely bringing him here!  5 stars for the food, ambiance, service and price!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/12/2009

    I don't go here for the food. Let's just say it's not outstanding comida.

    However, the prices are really great, the atmosphere is exciting, the crowd is diverse, they serve late on weekends, and  the waiters are HOT.

    I studied in Spain for a summer, and this place is almost identical to your typical restaurant in Madrid, so that's cool! The pictures on the menu, the unpretentiousness, the cafeteria-like feel...all very authentic. Even the somewhat plain food is very Spanish. (of course, there were exceptions in Spain, but a lot of food in madrid, and south of Madrid is quite bland!)

    What I do recommend at Iberico is the banana dessert and the jamon iberico. Delish. I don't recommend the patatas bravas or the mushrooms. Blaah.
    And remember, around American dinnertime on a weekend, you might actually wait two hours. But wait until Spanish dinner time, (10 or 11) and you'll probably get a table right away.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/20/2011

    Love this place for solid tapas. Of course, not quite like Spain, but probably the best place for tapas in the city.  This place is always busy! Usually you'll have a long wait if you come here on peak times.  The last time I came here, we waited for 45 minutes for a table of 3 on Saturday night at 8:45 pm.

    Most recent visit:
    - Sangrias - are always good both red and white
    - Gambas Ajillo - rich with garlic
    - Jamon Iberico - tomato bread, manchego cheese, and iberico ham - I could eat this all day
    - Patatas Bravas - ok, but has a spicy kick
    - Championes a la Planchas - a lot of mushrooms
    - Croquetas de Pollo - these were ok, nothing too special. can't really tell what meats in there
    - Mejillones a la Marinera - mussels were good in this marinara sauce

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/18/2009

    After reading a few Yelp reviews, I decided to try Cafe Iberico and have some tasty Tapas.  The restaurant was extremely large and I didn't have any problems getting a table.  I was by myself and I decided to order the Croquetas De Pollo, and the Queso De Cabra.

    The Croquetas De Pollo-  Chicken and ham puffs served with ali-oli sauce.  The chicken and ham was ground together and lightly fried.  These were pretty awesome, and I really enjoyed them with the sauce.  I would recommend this if you come here.
    yelp.com/biz_photos/gSMA…

    Queso De Cabra-  Baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce.  The goat cheese was soft, creamy and very tasty.  The tomato basil sauce was great, but I wish there was some more seasoning to calm the overwhelming tomato flavor.
    yelp.com/biz_photos/gSMA…

    I am sure this would have been much better if I was with some people and was able to try more items.  This is great for groups, and not so great by yourself.  The food was ok, but I wasn't blown away.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/3/2013

    I came here for a group event and was really impressed! All of the food was hot (when it was supposed to be), which is really rare when dining in a large group. I enjoyed the salmon, goat cheese, and spicy potatoes. Everything was very tasty, although some items didn't suit my preferences (which can be sort of picky). The real standout was the ham croquettes. So delicious!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/23/2011

    Went here before a night out with my family while in Chicago. I haven't been to tapas style restaurants very often, but I really liked Cafe Iberico. We ordered 5 or 6 plates to share. My favorite was the Queso de Cabra (goat cheese and tomato sauce with basil toasty breads). We shared a large pitcher of sangria, which was very good. Our waitress brought out a plate we had not ordered, but immediately fixed it as soon as we alerted her.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/10/2011

    Okay, so the food is great, not great. The atmosphere, busy, can be overly packed, definitely not a fan of the TVs all over the place.

    Maybe I'm being hard on the place, I just got back from Spain and was super excited to have some Jamon Iberico, I can definitely tell you this place definitely doesn't sell the real stuff.

    Still good for groups, but I think there's more to be had in Chicago.

    Keep searching!

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/17/2011

    Like everywhere in Chicago this place has HUGE portions. Some of the stand outs were the baked goat cheese, squid and octopus a la plancha and the clams. Wine specials and generous pours make this place a bargain. The only downside small cramped room and the low ceiling made it almost impossible to hold a conversation without yelling.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/25/2009

    We hit up Iberico at non peak hours, 4:30pm on a Tuesday, so there was no wait to be seated.  

    I had never been here before, but it seems like everybody I know and their bff has, so I got some good recommendations.  The queso de cabra (goat cheese and marinara-like sauce with crostinis) and jamon iberico (fresh tomato chunks on baguette, with manchego cheese and prosciutto were lip smacking good.  The patatas ali oli, cold potatoes in garlic mayo sauce, were also tasty.

    The only disappointment was that my favorite tapas was not on the menu!  No bacon wrapped dates?!  It's only a special now and again?!!!  I didn't understand.  I died a little inside when the waitress informed me of this.

    Despite this shortcoming, I can't wait to come back.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/7/2011 Updated review

    I have a problem.....I ate here on Sunday AND today...twice in 4 days....did I mention that I commuted an hour in and out of the city just to come here?

    To begin, we ordered Sangria. I prefer red; however, I was a little disappointed when I saw how they served the white sangria. They keep it in a huge plastic garbage bin next to the actual garbage behind the bar. Then, they put the pitcher directly in the garbage containing the sangria and scoop it in there. And then ladies and gentlemen, they serve it to you.

    I was a little grossed out that the sangria is kept in a garbage bin. I'm sure they need a huge place to store it, but at this point in Cafe Iberico's career, I think it is time to invest in some sort of dispenser so that it may be more sanitary.

    On to my favorites!!!!

    The grilled octopus with french fries is absolutely amazing. I'm not sure I saw 1 table that was not eating the octopus.

    Mushrooms are delicious...they prepare them in some sort of glaze...mildly spicy.

    Carne Asada was pretty good. Super tender. It kind of tasted like a beef stew. I'm not sure if I would order this again.

    Queso de Cabra is a staple item.

    Gazpacho was o.k....not sure I would order it again. Didn't really have substance to it...

    Cream of mushroom soup was amazing!!!

    Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes) and Garlic potato salad were fabulous as always

    Seafood Paella- WARNING...make sure you love fish because it is very fishy...

    Overall- I am absolutely obsessed with the food and atmosphere.

    This is a great place for a first date. Completely non-awkward atmosphere. It is usually pretty crowded and there is loud music playing so no awkward silences!

    5.0 star rating
    1/9/2011 Previous review
    AWESOME food....went with a group of 10 people; service was great and efficient.
  • 4.0 star rating
    6/8/2009

    I ordered the Tortilla Espanola (potato omelet) and the Pulpo a la Pancha (grilled octopus). The Tortilla Espanola was hardly close to the best I've had, but the Pulpo dish was awesome (although slightly oily)! I have no doubt their other dishes are tasty, and they offer a great variety.

    Unfortunately, I pictured octopus to be like squid. Aghhhhhhh if only I knew! Served with a dish of chopped up octopus, I couldn't bear to eat any of the bits where I could visually see the suction cups... it scared me too much! Sadface. I had to give it to my friend to eat, because good food could not be wasted. The parts I did eat though, well, let's just say it was cooked so tender and so tasty that it would've been hard to share if I had been able to stomach eating those... suction cups.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/24/2013
    Listed in Tapas

    Cafe Iberico is fantastic! Be sure to try the grilled octopus - they do it just right! I'm a big fan of their sangria as well

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/29/2012

    The scene is festive but the food is mediocre. The patatas bravas were drowning in gravy, the paella was a pile of flavorless rice, the sangria was without ice, and the pepper stuffed cod was under seasoned.

    The only positive attributes were the octopus, fast service and cool music.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/30/2011
    1 check-in

    I dunno man... I wish that I could give this place four stars, and if the review was based on the food alone it'd be an easy four and three-quarters. The food was top-notch- absolutely nothing negative to say in that department. The sangria was a little weak though. A little too Kool-aid without any good wine kick to it.

    The downside was... this place was LOUD! I mean... REALLY freakin' loud. We had a table of 8, and it was nigh upon impossible to hear the people on the other side of the table. Loud usually doesn't bother me- but this place... it was just REALLY freakin' loud. And hot!!!

    If I come here again and the food is as good as it was, I'll up the starrage. But for now... solid three.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/17/2012

    Yes please. Awesome environment. Awesome food! I loooove tapas (pretty much just sample dishes)! Can't remember too much about it since I visited Chi-town a couple weeks ago, but it's def worth your time and money. Very noisy, but in a comforting way. OH! WTF - they were playing Arabian-Islamic propaganda on the TVs the entire time I was there. Very discomforting, but also good. I mean, not many establishments even come close to attempting to combat mainstream American television so:

    Even though you scared the beh-geezus outta me, you still won my heart. Don't go blowing up any buses or museums or anything now.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/15/2013

    This place used to be better. Went a couple of weeks ago with a dear friend who was visiting. It was raining and we couldn't locate the valet. Drove around a million times before we found a spot. But then every staff member we encountered inside had an attitude problem including our host and server. The piña colada was whatever. The rice we ordered was too salty. Some of the dishes aren't advertised accurately- different dressing on the salads, etc. I think the staff needs a pep talk because I don't feel like coming back here.

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/17/2013

    Everyone seems to talk about how great this place was so my girlfriend and I finally gave it a shot. We like to try new places every couple weeks and we love tapas but  am very disappointed to state that this restaurant was a big letdown.

    Maybe it was all the hype but we both found the food to be unauthentic tapas, extremely bland, poor quality beef (skewers), and lacking on presentation. For starters, this place is great if you are going as a group but otherwise for a date night go elsewhere as it's extremely loud, the seating is terribly crowded, and the service is nothing special. Yes, we went on a busy Friday night but the whole experience left us leaving hungry and actually attempting to get eat elsewhere for dessert in attempts to fill us up. I have heard that this place is known for it's seafood and we ordered mostly beef, pork, and cheese plate dishes so maybe that is where we went wrong. Regardless, there was nothing here that made me want to come back to find out. Too many other authentic great options in the city to choose from.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/7/2011

    Went on a Sunday night and it wasn't busy.
    We tried

    - PATATAS BRAVAS ***
    Spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce

    - CHAMPIÑONES A LA PLANCHA ****
    Grilled mushrooms with garlic and olive oil

    - CROQUETAS DE POLLO *****
    Chicken and ham puffs served with ali-oli sauce

    - PULPO A LA PLANCHA ***** (can I give ****** star?!)
    Grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil

    Everything was very good. Our dinner made me remember the good food that I had in Spain.
    It's a good place for groups.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/21/2011

    Shared the seafood paella, ensalada de pollo, and calamares a la plancha on my last visit with a girlfriend. The paella wasn't spectacular but did have lots of seafood goodies and came out quicker than anticipated. I enjoyed the squid the most, with its garlicy/buttery sauce. The decor was a bit tacky and the service not the quickest, but big portions for a very reasonable price! A great place to try a lot of different, interesting dishes for relatively cheap.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/19/2011

    Having lived in Spain, I feel like I know my tapas, at least better than the average person, so it really perplexes me that so many of these tapas bars in Chicago, and there are many, do so well and are always booked, when, after sampling thier food, want nothing more than to leave and never come back.  But that doesn't go for this restaurant.  

    The menu is the standard, with nothing that jumps out as a house specialy, but nothing seems to be missing either.  What's good about this menu, is that everything seems to be well prepared, consistantly.  Thier use of fresh ingredients and seasonings really ramp up otherwise easily duplicated cuisine. And even though food is the focal point, lets not forget the sangria.  Unlike other tapas bars who make many flavored sangria and sangria inspired beverages, Cafe Iberico makes only two.  They make only two because that's all they need.  They are fresh, wonderfully blended, and very affordable.  And that goes with thier food too.  

    If you're looking for something exciting, then I'd probably go to another place, but if you'd like to spend a nice evening, eating some great food that you already know, and want to enjoy some tasty sangria, I would definately hit this place up.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/4/2012

    I love this place! Always great athmosphere,great food and great ,quick service!
    I always recommend it to my friends.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/9/2011

    Based on my 20+ visits to Cafe Iberico, I can safely conclude - I LOVE this place!

    It's very rare for me to say this but Cafe Iberico's atmosphere triumphs over the food. This place has everything for a good chillout zone - laid back, casual and stays open late. It's a perfect place for bringing a crowd of friends, co-workers for happy hour, date for an ice-breaker or family for fun evening.

    Food & Drinks -
    I have come across many tapas bars that are an epic failure when comes to sangria. I consider it an important part of a tapas meal. No good sangria, no returning customer! Cafe Iberico does a better job but just above average at the best. I, personally, enjoy consuming superfluous amounts of sangria per Cafe Iberico visit. It goes well with their atmosphere and sometimes, present company.  If that's not your thing, feel free to order a bottle of wine.

    Food is good and meets expectations well (don't set expectation to what you may have eaten in Madrid) . Their tapas menu is fairly wide with a well-balanced selections between seafood, beef and chicken. They have a lot of the traditionally popular tapas recipes on the menu and then some of their own which fare well. Portions are generous for tapas size but you'll probably order a few rounds. If you are longing for something off-the-menu, ask their friendly serve staff. I have never been disappointed by their suggestions. If you are dessert person, skip the flan and ice-cream.

    Tip to first timers - order few tapas at a time. Keep the menu handy and order several rounds, if required. Their turnaround time is fast and keeps things fresh at the table.

    Parking - its downtown. You may get lucky with metered parking otherwise they have reasonably priced valet service. 10-min walk from Chicago redline station.

    Word of advice... be ready to wait on Fri-Sat evenings. Especially summer months. It can get VERY busy and wait times can be ridiculous.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/24/2011

    This is a place I love to recommend to my friends. I love the atmosphere and the tapas and it brings back so many memories. The problem is that I haven't been back for several years until last week. The atmosphere is still there as are the new memories created. What I'm struggling with is whether my taste has changed or whether I hit it on a bad night because not only were all my dishes very average but the price for each was pretty steep for what I got. Normally, I walk away from a tapas restaurant raving about some of the dishes... not this time. I'm leaving it at 4-stars based on past experiences but if it's similar next time I go then I will have to drop this a notch.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/22/2011

    Aesthetically (as a River North joint), its not much... but the food is pretty good.  I love going to a place that makes sharing EASY.  There was a good crowd of people there for a week day which means the food must be good.  We had the Ensalada Mixta to start which was so delicious!  I am pretty prone to loving anything with asparagus in it though.

    We also shared two different meals - the eggplant rolls (week night special) and the other was Pincho de Pollo (YUM).  The eggplant rolls were terrible.  Cold, mushy, soggy ... it was like eating an old brown banana peel stuffed with an even colder mysterious stuffing.  It was just wrong.  TSK TSK!  It was so unsatisfying we tried to complain to our server who basically was trying to trick us into thinking it was good (good attempt might I add).  Pincho was really good.  I would of ate the onions all by themselves.

    We noticed on our way out that they were making a giant garbage can full of sangria.  In my book that's really the only way to make sangria.  Thanks for keeping it real!

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    3/1/2013
    1 check-in

    Fantastic service and food! Adriana and Nelson are AMAZING! And if you need a phenomenal waiter, ask for Abdias!! Pulpo is the best around, hands down!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/28/2011

    I have always been a big fan of Cafe Iberico. For a reasonable price you have great food and drinks. All the tapas and paellas that I have tried in all the times I have been there have been excellent. Some times you wait a bit to get a table but it is worth it and you can have a drink while waiting.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/12/2011
    1 check-in

    It is my third time to be there. My friends and I ordered 3 tapas, a paella and a chicken dish (forget the exact name).
    Tapas are so great. We ordered one salad, one beef and one squid. Besides, the price is pretty acceptable.
    The service is nice as well.
    I definitely will go there again!

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/28/2013

    The food is good here, but you have to buy ALOT in order to get full.  The sangria was a bit watered down.  I'd go back here.  It's a change from the chain restaurants.  Be prepared to spend $$.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/11/2012

    This place is way overrated. I was there last night the tapas are nothing like in Spain. Sorry but you just can't find a Tapas Bar as you will in Spain. The tapas at Iberico are more like entrees. I was barely able to finish the chorizo plate. The churros were just ok. The chocolate sauce tasted like Hersey's syrup. I will not go back. I will save money and travel to Spain for Tapas.

  • 1.0 star rating
    8/11/2012
    1 check-in

    Not very impressed.  First they tried to seat us in the basement - smelled like musty fish.  It was a small table (we had a party of 6) and when we said it was a little small, they pulled the small table away from the wall revealing a hard random ledge that I guess somebody was supposed to use as a chair. Asked to be relocated to the main floor which, amazingly, had empty tables? Guess used to better in Mexico , Spain and even Naperville IL  Poor service. Food came before plates.  Had to track down staff to get plates before food was cold.  Took forever for drinks to arrive for nonalcoholic drinkers. Had to ask again for them. And, seriously??, french fries mixed in with grilled octopus????  Really don't remember seeing french fries in traditional Spanish tapas!?  Not a fan!  Certainly will not return -- way too big of a bill for the food and service level.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/11/2011

    Happy Birthday to ME! Out of all the restaurants in Chicago, I asked two completely random friends where I should eat for "not too expensive, delicious drinks and festive" and I was told CAFE IBERICO. I am so happy that we came here. The lady who did my nails earlier in the day was going the next day and raved about it. Great choice!

    We instantly ordered the white sangria and drank two entire pitchers throughout our two hour dinner! It was delicious with all of the fresh fruit, yummy!

    For four people, we ordered about 8-9 tapas, two desserts, two pitchers of white sangria and four special coffees for about $110!

    My favorites were the patatas bravas (spicy tomato sauce potatoes), pincho de solomillo (beef tenderloin skewer), queso de cabra (baked goat cheese with tomato basil sauce) and the carmel flan.

    My boyfriend ordered everything for him, me, my mom and my dad since he's lived in Spain twice and pretty much ate everything on the menu. He kept it safe for my mom and I but I know my dad and him were craving the octopus..I wouldn't let them order that though...maybe next time or after three pitchers of sangria.

    The restaurant is loud and the wait can get very long after 7pm but we were seated immediately which was fantastic. I liked that it was loud because that means everyone is having a great time.

    They don't take reservations after 5pm. Just amazing! Definitely a must eat!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/28/2011

    It's been a long time since I went there ... but I love their tapas.

    Its a very busy, and loud place but I guess that's part of the whole fun. Be warned - there will be a long wait ... but the food is good. And I love their sangria.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/24/2012

    Been eating tapas for over 10 years here and introduce few of my friends there! U can't go wrong with anything here

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/12/2012

    Great place! The tapas taste great, the sangria is just right, and the bill is always affordable. The food isn't gourmet by any means, but that's what makes this place my go to spot for tapas. I love the atmosphere, the design is quaint and the customers are always having a great time. Great place for large groups of people, maybe not so much for a first date. Also, save room for desert because they are all quite amazing!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/10/2011

    This is really more like 3.5 because of the service, but being an honorary Spaniard (I lived in Bilbao for a bit), I was impressed by the tapas selection.

    To summarize:

    The sangria was pretty decent and extremely affordable for River North...16 bucks for a large pitcher easily served three people for a meal. The tapas selection was also really varied and extremely reasonably priced, from about 6-8 dollars each. Two people could easily split 3 of them and be quite full.

    However, I had really crappy service. I'm pretty sure my table had a promoted busser...this is not cool. He was unengaging, didn't really know how to interact with us, and to top it off, refused to split our check and overcharged for two margaritas...He didn't seem fazed by our complaint about the overcharge and so we flagged down a manager ourselves...I will go back, but if I have him again, I'll ask to switch sections.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/22/2012

    Cafe Iberico is certainly a respectable alternative to Cafe Ba-ba-Reeba, which I frequent a lot. I prefer the paella here which tend to be less oily and more flavourful. The tapas were quite good as well but Ba-ba-Reeba reigns supreme in this category, I must say. What I do like about Iberico is the little deli area where I bought a pack of delicious sausage called butifara. I absolutely adore it and if you are looking to further your Spanish culinary vocabulary beyond chorizo, look no further. It is also located at a walkable distance from the El, so there's no excuse not to come.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/12/2013

    Had a great time ,  they have the best octopus I have ever had, it was that good.  The smoked salmon plate was also out of this world.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/4/2009

    was in the mood for authentic spanich cuisine so a good friend with flair for local cuisine recommended this place for thier tapas. True enough is place was packed for an early weekend dinner and I soon know why.
    The hot tapas are generously portioned, taste is just wonderful!!!
    try a bit of everything.

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/9/2013

    This place is okay. I feel like the quality of the food, drinks and service could be a lot better for what you wind up paying. I think that there are plenty of other excellent tapas places in the city for the same price.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/19/2012

    We couldn't get reservations for a Sunday night for 4 people and we had tickets to the Second City show, so we were a bit concerned about a wait.  At 6 pm, there was no wait, but the place was VERY busy.  We were able to get seated, with 8 tapas devoured in 1 hour 15 minutes - plenty of time.

    For a family of 4 with two hungry teen boys, we got 8 tapas, 2 sodas, and a half pitcher of sangria (I'm not a big fan) for $120 including tip.  Here's a run down of our thoughts of the dishes (the boys are big meat fans - and don't eat seafood - but the garlic shrimp looked delicious).

    Best - Short Ribs Special - we ordered two of these, yummy potatoes and tender ribs.
    Best - Chicken Empanada Special - chicken raisins, yum
    Great - Queso goat cheese and tomatoes
    Good - artichoke cold salad - only 3 artichoke pieces, peppers and salad
    Good - beef tenderloin skewers - one skewer and french fries
    Good - Flat iron steak - with potatoes
    Meh - chicken croquettes - not a fan - fairly tasteless and white sauce was bland

    I'm sure there were other delicious options.  Some of the dishes were not hot enough, but it was really busy and the flavors were still good.  Our waiter worked hard and efficiently added more dishes to our order when asked.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/20/2011

    After waiting an hour to be seated, I was very dissapointed with the atmosphere on the top level of the restaurant. The only thing that cheered me up was the pitcher of sangria (delicioso), and our friendly waiter.

    Great vegetarian paella. Excellente beef skewers and spicy papas tambien. The desserts were fantastic as well. If it werent for the lack of ambiance on the 3rd floor, I would have given a 4 star rating.

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/2/2011
    1 check-in

    I have been here quite a few times, and each time I am hoping for a different experience. I give up. How can you go wrong with tapas? How about by being stingy!? The lamb paella was drizzled with a few pieces of lamb, which were way over cooked and almost chewy.
    We also ordered the scallops, which were split in half as if we were not deserving of the pull scallop! More so, the rice was undercooked. The sauce had flavor on it's own- however there may have been too much... MAYO??
    My usual tapas order consists of the following: short rib, spicy potatoes, goat cheese in tomato, ham sampler or ham with tomato bread, dates, some seafood.
    I will go to Café Ba Ba Reeba in Lincoln Park as I think that their food has better flavor and positive consistency.
    However, for drinks, Café Iberico will serve you just fine. Note: it is super loud!

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/29/2012

    paella is WAY TOO SALTY and the tables are WAY TOO CLOSE...like might as well be at the same table close. the gazpacho had no vegetables at all, though the soup base itself was good. the small clams sautéed with shallots, white wine and parsley were fine. i wouldn't initiate going back.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/4/2009
    1 check-in

    Here's where the problem starts; I went to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba the next night.  I had never been to either and was looking to try both.  The problem is I didn't like this tapas place as much as the other, so it paled in comparison.

    I didn't feel the food had much flavor.  On the plus side, the drinks were delicious!  

    My fave dish here was the beef skewers (although the fries were soggy and crispy at the same time, if that's possible...didn't like them).  Other than that, nothing else really stood out in my mind.  

    All in all, it was good and a great place to gather before going out downtown. (Just not great...)

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/17/2011

    I've been to this place dozens of times and always loved the food and sangria. But last night, the music definitely seemed louder than ever in the main room, they'd changed the music from reggaeton to house, and the videos they were playing on their TVs had flashing strobe lights. It was like being in a dance club.

    We could hardly communicate with the waiter, let alone each other. The table next to us got up and left after a few minutes because they were having a yearly reunion and found they couldn't hear well enough to catch up with each other.

    We did speak to the manager, who graciously offered to move us to another table in the smaller room, but we already had all our food and couldn't be bothered to move.

    The food is always excellent, but it's very difficult to have a conversation here, especially with people near middle-age.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/7/2010

    The famous Chinese food episode that put Seinfeld on the map?  The host called "Cartwright," instead of "Costanza."  I had a similar experience here at Iberico - I gave them my name when I arrived, and they post it on a screen when your table is ready.  They estimated 20 minutes.  About 25 minutes after we got there, I saw 'Sandra, Party of 2" being broadcast.  I had actually spelled out my name for them, letter by letter, so they wouldn't mess it up.  I had seen them write it.  But I double checked, and they assured me l was the very next on the list.  

    I wasn't.  Another fifteen minutes, and I checked with them again.  They said I was the next one to be called.  Fifteen minutes after THAT, I go back and get a little more persistent, at which point they call me Sandra, point to my name spelled perfectly correctly on their board, and announce that they called me awhile ago.  Damn it.  They apologized for the inconvenience, and brought us to our table, almost an hour after we got there.

    The meal:

    Three tapas
    One entree
    Two people
    Plenty of leftovers.

    Rehone your concept of tapas - these were all entree sized.  My date only eats halal, so we ordered a salmon and mint rice dish, a plate of steamed mussels, stewed eggplant over toast, and an entree of seafood paella.

    The bread on the table was soft and crumbly and dry (good bread should be light and airy on the inside and have a hard crust) and the olive oil barely tasted olive-y.  No olives were served with our meal.  

    The salmon was easily the best part of our meal - crispy and caramelized on the outside, moist and tender and flavorful on the inside.  The whole thing tasted olive-y.  And the serving size is about 6oz, which is insane for a dish that's a tapa.  The rice it came with supposedly had mint in it, but we couldn't taste any.

    The stewed eggplant - too sweet, but otherwise acceptable.

    The mussels seemed amazing at first, especially with the wonderful salty briny broth they were served in. I fell in love with them, until I got a few under my belt, at which point the insane levels of salt started to hit me and dry out my mouth.  Definitely a dish to be shared.  

    The seafood paella - bland and disappointing.  Tasted like the metal of the paella pan more than anything, and clearly had no saffron.. The serving size was huge, however, and had a good serving of seafood in it.  

    Service was all right - our waitress was sweet and attentive and calm throughout the noise and bustle, but the bus boys didn't refill our water even once (which started to hurt with those super salty mussels).

    Would I come back here for great food and ambiance with my single, discerning friends?  No, definitely not.  Would I come back here years from now, as a mid 30's suburbanite with little kids and maybe out of town visiting relatives, and feel confident that my group and the restaurant were appropriate for one another? Yes.

    Iberico is like a Spanish version of the Olive Garden - delicious to no one, acceptable to everyone, good value, big portions, safe and bland tasting, nice clothes optional, screaming kid friendly.  I had been painting my new apartment all day, and had been doing errands downtown when hunger and circumstance brought us to Iberico - I was worried about walking into a downtown restaurant on a Saturday night in ripped jeans, messy hair, and a paint stained tee, but my date convinced me.  As soon as I walked in, and saw that the fanciest dressed people there were in Ed Hardy, I felt better.  

    I would definitely recommend Iberico as a solid bet for tourists, familes, and big groups.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/5/2013

    I enjoy almost all of their dishes...but let me be honest, I'm going there for the Sangria.  The staff is hit or miss and it's very loud but almost always have a great time

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/7/2009

    Simple decor.  Tapas would be considered average in Spain, but we're not in Spain. We started with an exquisite spinach salad, followed by a  an island of goat cheese in the midst of a tomato sauce, chicken croquettes with a cream sauce , and an unfortunately soggy patatas bravas.  The last dish was something of a disaster - particularly because in Spain it's the equivalent of french fries - everyone does it at an acceptable level.  

    I did  appreciate the wine list - a wide variety of Spanish reds between $20 and $23.  Service was good, but the noise level was high. Aside from noisy conversation, do they really need to play Ricky Martin that loud?  Still,I'd love to have this place in the DC area.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/27/2010

    Cafe Iberico is definitely A-OK. I lived in Spain for an entire year so trust me, I know excellent tapas. I would not define Iberico's tapas as the best, but I think this restaurant is more known for its ambiance, quick service and unbelievable prices.

    I must say, the octopus is amazing. By far the best thing that we ordered all night. I would recommend ordering them without potatoes, which are basically just french fries. Who wants french fries when you get extra octopus when you order without? I don't know how they cook it but I'd highly recommend ordering at least a couple dishes of this yummy tapa.

    We actually didn't order a lot of the traditional tapas. I was with a big group, so I left everyone else take charge, because I'll pretty much eat anything ;) The scallops were good but I think they put sour cream somewhere in there and I never remember most tapas in Spain ever having sour cream. So that is a definite American twist, which I was not happy about.

    In hindsight, I would have liked to order a paella and also the tortilla, as those are staple tapas dishes. I would come here again because it is a fun atmosphere and perfect for large groups. They don't take reservations, which is a bummer, but those waiters turn business around pretty fast so I can't imagine you're every waiting longer than an hour. And in the meantime, there is a bar conveniently located in the front.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/25/2011

    i'm sad. i was looking forward to delicious paella all weekend long, and this place butchered one of my favorite things to eat. WHY!!!  honestly, it was gross. the rice was so dry, the flavor bland, and they skimped like crazy on the seafood.

    However, I must say that their potatoes and goat cheese with marinara tapas were really good.

    but dude, that paella... it should be taken it off the menu pronto.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/28/2011

    I am not sure why but Cafe Iberico fell off my radar a few years ago. It may have been because I was going there so much and needed a break. Well, I went there this week and was surprised to find the same prices, menu items and service - all with a nice updated decor.

    I love the white sangria here and it's pretty reasonable compared to other tapas places in the city.

    My friend and I had the spicy potatoes (of course), the mushrooms, spinach salad and a seafood casserole (it was the special). As always, the food came out promptly with fresh bread.  We liked everthing - esp the flavors in the seafood dish.

    The entrees are still a perfect size for the price.

    I think Cafe Iberico is one of the most reasonably priced places in the city for good tapas. I am glad it's back on my radar.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/2/2011

    We came here for a group lunch (about 20 people) during the week. It was pretty quiet for a lunch run but it was nice. As other reviewers mentioned, it can get freaking LOUD here during the night.

    Food is great and you definitely eat with your eyes. The patatas bravas and goat cheese are a must, and don't be afraid to try out some of the cold seafood salad options. I also had the soup (special was pumpkin) and it's a very large portion, so be careful with that one.

    As always, save room for dessert - they are ALL good so pick a bunch and share with the people with you - extra spoons are always there!

    And the sangria - I agree that it's not the best you'll ever have in your life but it does get tasty 3 or 4 glasses down.

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/24/2011

    Sigh.....you've sold out, Iberico.

    Cafe Iberico had long been my favorite tapas spot in Chicago...the one I recommended to others, the one with the most authentic food and excellent atmosphere.

    After this past Saturday night, I'll never be back.

    We were told our wait for a table for 4 would be 40 minutes, and to watch for my name on the TV screen for when it was our turn (okay, this is a pretty great system, kudos for that). The hostess offered us immediate seating at the new restaurant upstairs, but after seeing that the menu consisted of a laminated placemat with photos of the food, a la a cheap takeout place, we declined.

    I called the hostess (it was too crowded to get back to the stand to ask in person) after 55 minutes to ask our status. She was unapologetic, and it was another 10 minutes still (65 minutes, after being told 40) before we were seated.

    Speaking of the seating....way, WAY too many tables in the room (the southern dining room, main floor). I was literally brushing backs/hair with the woman at the next table the entire time. I could probably have heard her conversation as well, if it weren't for the deafening noise in the room. I've been to loud restaurants, and I've been to busy Chicago restaurants on Saturday nights more often than I can remember...this was a whole new level. My ears were ringing like after a rock concert for the entire next day.

    All of this could have been ignored, had the food and drink been as I had remembered. Nope. Our paella wasn't made to order as it always had been in the past--it came out overcooked and forgettable. The crostini with the goat cheese/marinara was soggy and spongy. And the sangria was...just okay.

    Our server was fine for our initial drink and tapas order, then we never saw her again. We may have added a few other tapas to our order if given the opportunity, but instead we couldn't get the check fast enough.

    So, so sad, Iberico. You've changed. And not for the better. So many other experiences in the city more worthy of our time and money.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/18/2013

    I have been going to this fabulous place for the last 6 years. I could not stop talking this place up to everyone who visited Chicago. This place is a must, even if the wait is 2 hours! Always smarter to make reservations ahead of time.
    The food is amazing and the service is always up to par. I have been able to try almost everything on the menu and didn't find a dish I didn't like. Sure I had my favorites, Patatas Bravas, but I always tried what they had on their daily special menu.
    If finding parking in the area, because its downtown Chicago, they have valet for a reasonable price. If you park on the street and want to stay for a couple of hours, you might as well take advantage of valet (you might just pay the same price)

    Every restaurant has their bad nights where their service is not the greatest. But with the quality and quantity of the food for their price, no other tapas restaurant can compare!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/25/2012

    Great tapas. It gets packed so make sure you go early. They have  valet.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/21/2011

    I went on a very nice date here with my gf.  It was crowded, but well worth the wait!  Tapas are fun and tasty, and this place is no exception.  

    Food: Get the lamb, goat cheese bread, and mussels for sure.  Portion sizes are small, but its tapas.  Order many dishes and you'll leave satisfied!
    Stay away from their paella if you have high standards for paella, like me.

    Atmosphere: Lively and loud.  
    Service: Decent

    The only bad thing about Iberico is the wait to get it.  Once you're in, it's a blast.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/2/2009
    3 check-ins

    Well, my first time here a year ago, the sangria is the only thing I remember about the place.  Or that whole night.  Hence, why I'm writing review based off my experience last night...

    While waiting for our table to be ready, one of the hosts directed us to the bar upstairs where we ordered sangria and were served some free tortilla española.  Score!

    When we were seated, we decided on a gameplan as we waited for three of our friends to find parking...basically, for us 7, we fired off an order for 12 different tapa dishes.  While this was the perfect amount of food for us, it did present an interesting logistical problem - with 7 people at a table for 6, we basically had to polish off each plate as it came so that we'd have enough space on the table!  It actually turned out to be pretty fun making sure everyone did their share to literally clear the table.

    The food itself was great, though it helps if you have a wide palate.  For simplicity's sake, you can't go wrong with any of the shellfish (though pass on the garlic butter shrimp tapa), and you MUST get some jamon iberico.

    And the second best surprise of the night (hard to top one of my boys getting engaged) was how cheap the bill turned out.  Around $20 each for a wide variety of food and enough sangria to get a light buzz is a pretty damn good deal.

    Much better than having so much sangria that you can only relive the night from your friends' stories.  Uhhh...

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/9/2013

    Reasonably priced, and you get what you pay for.  Food was fine.  Service was average; we actually waited quite a while for dishes and hot tapas were served warm.  Not bad, but no reason to return.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/19/2009

    I have been a frequent of Cafe Iberico for 10 years! If you are a party of five or less on a busy evening, you may get seated in 20 minutes. Now if you are planning a party of 10 or more expect to wait a lot longer. Plus they will not seat you until your entire party is present.
    Now that we got that out of the way...lets continue.

    Once you managed to get a table immediately order a pitcher or two of their famous sangria for the table. Keep in mind this is a tapas bar so sharing is caring and no one is getting their own entree.

    Start off by ordering the patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), Queso de Cabra (baked goat cheese), Pincho de Solomillo (beef tenderloin skewer & caramelized onions), Champinoes a la plancha (grilled mushrooms). Those are my top must before eveing making a dent in my appetite. You can never go wrong with their grilled octopus, squid or shrimp, this seems to always make its way to the table.

    The servers move quick and the order is up just as fast. So be ready!
    The pricing is reasonable and attractive enough for couples to dine in on a date and the atmosphere is just as rewarding. Larger groups will definitely get the bigger bill however when divided collectively its not so bad. I do think this is a great dinning destination for the out of town guest looking to experience a side of chicago that is not seen to often outside the typical chicago style food scene.

    If you are looking to jump start the night right, Cafe Iberico is a great choice.

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/11/2012

    Great food, when they remember to bring it to you.

    Oh yeah, service sucks.  Our waiter completely forgot to place the order for one of our tapas, NEVER came back to refill our drinks, and decided what his tip would be.  We paid with a mix of cash and credit and he took my $20 bill without asking if we needed change (which we did) and he never even contemplating coming back to our table.  Both my friend and I were servers throughout college and I NEVER assumed any cash was 100% my tip.

    When you go out to a place like this, you go to enjoy the service and the experience.  Good luck finding the service.

    BTW, the extra star is solely attributed to the food, not our server.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/12/2011

    Food is ok, but really nothing spectacular.

    We went to Cafe Iberico for lunch last week. We had patatas bravas (too salty), tortilla espanola (ok, but could be fluffier), a pork dish (generally excellent), pincho de pollo (chicken skewers, mediocre and nothign to write home about) and mushrooms (way way too salty). I tend to judge a restaurant by the bread they offer, and the bread they gave us was old and tasteless. I was not bothered by the flat screen TVs everywhere that played Spanish channels, but I can see that they'll distract from the experience if you are looking for something romantic.

    I love Spanish food and I am going to keep on searching for something better than Cafe Iberico.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/20/2011

    Been here a couple times now and it's been solid each time.  I've only had the whole fish red snapper but damn it's good!  enough food for two to three people and very reasonably priced.  Next time i'll be trying other stuff but for whole fish this place is great. They are open pretty late which was a plus.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/11/2011
    6 check-ins
    Listed in Good for Groups

    I've been coming here for the past 9 years and all I can add is that from the Tapas places in Chicago, you won't go wrong with Iberico..

    The bigger your group, the better the deal, order a few sangria pitchers and about 2 tapas per person for a very good price.

    My picks: croquetas, patatas alioli, russian salad, pulpo a la plancha, Bacon wrapped dates, the goat cheese, spanish omelet..

    The place can get really PACKED on Fridays and Saturday nights, you can try calling ahead but everyone needs to be present for seating. Once you sit down and order, tapas are served fairly quick.. so either avoid those times or drink some sangria while you wait :-)

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/9/2011
    1 check-in

    Customer since...I don't even remember, long time ago, at least 15 years. The only bad part about this place was tight space and long waiting time. But I don't think I can do any better if I am always going there on SAT night or Sun night. Only the good one has to wait, right..?

    Their tapa has nothing to say...it was good back then, it is still very good now...it is a very cheap place for decent night with the wife. Highly recommended.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • Start your review of Café Iberico.

    Rating
    • Eek! Methinks not.
    • Meh. I've experienced better.
    • A-OK.
    • Yay! I'm a fan.
    • Woohoo! As good as it gets!

    Select your rating.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/24/2008

    I've been a loyal Café Iberico diner for years now, but after my dining experience last night, I learned a few things I thought I would share.

    1. While the white sangria isn't as good as red sangria, it's still pretty rockin'.  And they put oranges in it!
    2. I'd been scared to try octopus for, well, ever.  Guess what?  When it's char-grilled and smothered in delicious seasonings, it's actually really tasty.  Not at all chewy like I anticipated.  I'm most definitely ordering it again.
    3. One goat cheese with marinara plate is NEVER enough for five people.  You must order two...bare minimum.
    4. For those budgeting babes and fellas out there, Café Iberico is one of the most cost-effective restaurants out there.  For a table of 5 people, our bill was $120... including tax and tip.  Can't go wrong!

    Café Iberico has always been a go-to spot to bring out of town guests when you're looking for a restaurant that isn't too stuffy or fancy.  It's loud, vibrant, the food is dependably good and sharing small plates always promotes good conversation.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/26/2011

    A friend brought me here for my birthday and it was superb! We got there before the Friday night rush, so we had no problem being seated.  By the time we left, the place was packed!  Make a reservation to avoid the weekend wait.  

    We took advantage of the hot tapas--Patatas Bravas, Queso de Cabra, and the Croquetas de Pollo.  The Croquetas were absolutely amazing!  It was almost as if they melted in your mouth.  I craved them for weeks after having them-they are THAT good.  The sangria is great.  They have both red and white.  I had the red and it was just right.

    The service was decent.  The staff was very friendly and helpful.  The look and feel of the restaurant really adds to your dining experience.  It is a very cute restaurant.  

    I'm so happy that she introduced me to this lovely place and can't wait to go back for some more tapas and sangria!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/11/2011

    Relatively cheap tapas!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/1/2012

    I have actually been to Spain several times.   How's that for a pretentious way to begin a review?  
    Let me begin again - I love taking people from out of town to places that i genuinely enjoy within walking distance of my fabulous apartment.  What ? ? that's not any better?  
    OK lets cut to the chase.  I had a bunch of coworkers in town for a meeting - our Manager asked my pal Angie and I to select a place to eat that would fall within the companies draconian expense parameters.  So we selected Cafe Iberico.
    I think we were geniuses.  The place embodies Spanish tapas bars except for the fact that there were not toothpicks all over the floor. The big TVs blaring,  the tapas on the bar as you walk back to the tables-  with people hunkered over deep in loud conversations ,  the checked table clothes, the menu with pictures.   I felt like I had literally been dropped back in Madrid.
    We ordered several pitchers of Sangria,  and then started ordering food,  more food and more food and more food.  I have no idea what all we ate - but the seafood paella knocked my socks off.  Everyone had such a great time!   The servers were fast and patient,  the food was great -  I came home with enough chicken to feed myself for a week. FABULOUS.  
    And the best part for you penny pincher's out there - 11 people ,  more food than you can imagine,  3 pitchers of Sangria and the whole bill came to about $200.  Amazing.  Plus all those folks from places that aren't Chicago loved it.  A good time,  no a GREAT time was had by all.  Yippee!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/22/2011

    I been here numerous of times and it s just a nice place to go!!
    The ambiance is inviting, the food is tasty and the service is decent. Doesn't matter who u go with, its just a nice place to be and to get things started:)

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/7/2011

    We had a quick dinner here on our recent trip to Chicago.  They were able to seat us at 7:00 on a Saturday with no reservation.  We ordered about 6 tapas.  Everything came out in a timely manner.  The tapas themselves were just OK.  There was nothing that stood out as excellent.  The paella had a good flavor but was way too salty!  

    Don't go there on a first date or anytime you want to have good dinner conversations.  It was so loud that we had to repeat everything 2 or 3 times in order to communicate.  

    On a good note, the food was very reasonable priced.  We left after having 6 tapas and a few drinks and the bill was less than $70.  Not bad!

  • 1.0 star rating
    9/15/2008
    Listed in What, Meh Worry?

    I used to go to Cafe Iberico all the time when I worked on Michigan Ave. Mostly a bunch of work mates would go for the Sangria and order little in the way of food. Since then, Iberico just seems to have gone downhill. I've visited plenty more Tapas bars that offer way more in selection and with better quality!

    Seating is ample so it's good for groups and you will be in and out in a flash if you prefer that. I was looking forward to a Spanish cheese plate, a staple at tapas bars. Heck, I think even McDonald's has one on their Extra Value Menu. Not avaiable at Cafe Iberico! We did get the Jamon plate that had slices of cured ham, manchego cheese, along with bread piled high with seasonless raw tomatoes. So many tomatoes that the bread grew soggy under the weight. What wonders a little Sea Salt would've done. My dining partner got the Olive plate and it looked divine. One olive she described as "chewy" and I think I talked for the next ten minutes as she ate it!

    Our fave of the night was the Queso de Cabra (creamy goat cheese and a tomato basil sauce) and it's so fun to say! The Sangria was good and I also liked the Patatas Bravas, a spicy red tomato potato dish. But I figure I can get these elsewhere, and will save Iberico for raucous groups up for drinking a few pitchers of Sangria.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/19/2011
    1 check-in

    Solid ace for Cafe Iberico. I've been here countless times I can't believe I haven't written a review for it yet.

    This place gets my vote for tapas because its opened late... like Spanish meal times late.
    The food is solid and the price is decent. The environment is a little loud, its like a taverna. You kind of have to yell.
    I love that all the food comes really quickly.

    You can never go wrong with:
    -Gambas Ajillo (shrimp)
    -Queso de cabra (goat cheese in marinara)
    -Pulpo a la Plancha (grilled octopus with fries)

    There's a salmon dish I can't quite remember the name, and the clam dish is pretty good too. Oh and love all the dessert. Love the almond torte with ice cream, crema catalana, and flan.

    Okay so the menu has clams and mussels mixed up.
    Mejillones are the mussels but the english description says clams..
    Almejas are clams, but the english description says mussels.

    So if you don't know the spanish words for them, switch them up in English.

    The sangria is just so-so but does the job.

    Service is really fast, friendly. I have been back many times and will definitely be back again.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/2/2008

    Who gets this many reviews?

    Yup, a place that draws the young crowd.  Cafe Iberico doesn't just draw them, they pack them in.  To quote Liz R's recent review, "Some of the Tapas are better at Emilio's, but I would rather come here (If you're over 40, you might rather go to Emilio's, this place is loud and packed with 20 and 30-somethings)."  Well said.  I'm over 40, and I'll take Emilio's, for food, for service, and for the ability to hear what other people in your party are saying.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/6/2011
    1 check-in

    Went here for a friend's birthday.  It was a surprise and we had to plan this ahead of time which was tough because they do not take reservations on the weekend.  Called ahead and was told that if I arrived by 6:30, everything would be fine and we'd have a table no problem.  We were there at 6 and weren't seated until 8.  Disaster.  We were able to delay the guest, but it was stressful.

    For the party, we brought a cake to be served at the table.  We asked that it not be refrigerated.  First, they charged us $1/person for a "cutting charge" and they didn't even cut the cake.  They just brought it to the table.  Secondly, the cake was in the cooler.  Our table was right by the cooler and we could clearly see it.  We asked to have it taken out and it was, for about 3 minutes, before it was put right back in the cooler.

    If you are going here, be prepared for crowds.  The place was beyond packed the entire time we were there.  It was overwhelming to be honest.  It is also very loud, tough to have any conversations.

    The food was ok.  It was very reasonably priced and you would be able to order a bunch of things without breaking the bank.  Also, the folks at our table were drinking sangria.  They were all pretty impressed by it and it was also reasonably priced.

    The server was not very good.  He was absent for long periods of time.  He was guaranteed his tip because of the size of our party and I think the service suffered.  I was constantly out of soda and waiting for a refill.

    Overall, we had a good time, but the next time I'm in the mood for tapas, I'll probably seek out another option.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/28/2011

    Last night (a Saturday evening) was my first time going to Cafe Iberico and I must say it was a great experience!  I was there for a friend's birthday dinner and there were 19 of us... yes, 19.  We walked in without a reservation and were given a wait time of an hour/hour and a half, a surprisingly short wait time for such a large party.  The hostess asked us to wait at the bar upstairs while we were waiting for our table and when we got to the upstairs bar we ordered a pitcher of white wine sangria which (I heard, since I don't drink) was delicious.  We were also served some Spanish omelet on the house which was so tasty.  

    Once we got seated our ONE waiter (I would have expected at least 2 for a party of 19) served us more drinks and took our orders right away suggesting that their paella takes about 45 minutes to cook.  We ordered their Paella Iberico along with about 6-8 other tapas dishes ranging from chicken to octopus to goat cheese.  We had decided to split up the group into smaller groups to order, we were ordering for 6 people (3 girls and 3 guys) and surprisingly the 6-8 tapas plus the paella was a good amount, we all felt pretty full.  

    My suggestions for this place, come early and put your name in right away even if only half your party is there.  Order a few tapas including a paella then when you're half way done with what you originally ordered, order a couple more at a time after that.  Try the sangria and also try one or two of their special tapas for the week!

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/17/2011

    This is most affordable tapas place and the portion are great to share with a big group. There are a lot of tapas places but I have been coming here since  my college days and I always have to get the spicy potatoes, octopus with fries,  and the goat cheese, there are a must.  The red sangria and the tiramisu  too. The rest is good too but I just loves these items and grew up with them.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/24/2011

    Good selection and variety to choose from. We had a few tapas to start and ordered the iberico pallella. All of the tapas were very nice. Recommend the salchicha platter and well as the clam in white wine sauce. What was so disappointing was the pallella. As indicated we ordered the house pallella. You would think that they would put their heart and soul into this plate. The pallella had no flavor. The rice was watery and the seafood was limited. I've had many pallella platters
    At different locations and this was no pallella. Panda Express makes a  better rice. In summary tapas are good, stay away from the pallella.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/5/2010

    My mom took us to Cafe Iberico when we were in town over Thanksgiving. This is one of her favorite casual restaurants in the area we live, but unfortunately we did not have a good experience the time we went. After our experience my mom apologized profusely, saying it normally wasn't this bad.

    Our food was good, but our service was terrible. We ordered the sangria, which my mom says she loves, and we all tasted it and universally made disgusted faces. It took 15 minutes for us to signal the waiter, who tried to tell us their sangria was particularly fine. After we insisted he finally got the bartender to make us a new batch. It was much better.

    Service was slow as molasses, and it was nearly impossible to track down the waiter. We had to wait forever for our tapas. The dining room was so loud (even though it was a weeknight) we had to shout to say our orders or have any conversation. The food was fine but not anything I'd write home about. The cold omelet was amazing, the goat cheese and shrimp were good enough, the veggies and salmon dish we had were meh. The food wasn't spectacular enough to life Cafe Iberico above the bad service. I probably wouldn't go back again with all the great dining Chicago has to offer.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/21/2012

    Every time I eat here, I love it more!  It's a bustling, squeeze another on the end, sangria servin' food frenzy and the the food is a party in your mouth!  It's simply, amazing.  The kind of amazing that makes me wanna eat the left overs for breakfast!   My last visit here was Thursday night and right now I'm craving bacon wrapped dates and Paella.  Additionally, I love how this place embraces my loud laugh...I've not received a shady look there yet!  Très bon restaurant. Alimentation encore mieux!...I know it's French but I don't know Spanish and I couldn't say something cool enough for this place in just English :) Anyway, your next GNO should be here!

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/11/2011

    The sangria was excellent as well as the paellas!  But, I'd stay clear from the salmon and shrimp dishes.  Both were mediocre and my friend ended up getting sick from them!  The atmosphere was very very noisy and not that enjoyable.  The crazy Spanish music videos playing were definitely not necessary! However, they were a bit comical!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/8/2011

    Happened upon this place while taking a stroll on a gorgeous day, and I knew it would be just what the doctor ordered. It has been recommended by friends, and I've been meaning to check the place out, so I was thrilled to see them open on a Sunday afternoon.

    It wasn't too busy and we were seated right away. The atmosphere was nice, and I loved that they had Spanish TV channels on (not that I speak Spanish or anything). The place just had an authentic feel to it.

    The menu was great, and even included photos. The waiter was prompt in greeting us, getting drinks, and taking orders for our first two (cold) tapas. He recommended a Spanish beer that I loved. The tapas were *excellent*...Jamon Iberico, and Plato Combinado - basically, delicious meats and cheeses. The accompanying bread was also fresh and delicious.

    We ordered 3 more (hot) tapas, and two of them were brought out (grilled squid, and ham & chicken puffs). We were totally done with them, and the waiter asked if we would like anything else...

    Up until now, everything was "5-star", but I told the waiter that we ordered the goat cheese and he went into a mini-tirade about how the chef screwed up the order and he's made "20 mistakes", and blah, blah, blah. It was not big deal, and it's not like I was starving or anything, and could have even gone without the last tapas.

    So the waiter went from being *wonderful* to totally pissed off. BF was irritated that the waiter threw the chef under the bus, when it was ultimately his responsibility to deliver the food to us. BF also said that the waiter reached across the table to refill water, whilst dripping water from the pitcher onto the food (I was in the rest room when this happened). Anyway, BF is rarely irritated by anything, but this waiter was pissing him off.

    We got and finished the delicious goat cheese, and sat for quite a while and I finally had to flag down the waiter for our check. He kinda tossed it on the table with no comment or eye contact. Listen dude, we didn't do anything to make you mad at US!

    Anyway. BF paid and left 15%+ tip, but included some change in it (I was embarrassed by this, but like I say, BF was super irritated)...and as we were walking out, I heard waiter complaining to (manager? owner?) about the fact that he got loose change included with tip, presumably blaming chef's errors for this.

    Whatever. The food was phenomenal, best tapas I've ever had, and the service was great for the first half of the meal. We will be back!

  • 1.0 star rating
    10/26/2013

    10/26/13 @ 22:00. Decent food but the waitress and manager refused to allow separate cheques when our group specifically asked for it before we placed our orders. We tried to explain to the manager that each of us had separate business accounts and require itemized receipts for reimbursement purposes. Manager refused to listen and dropped cheque on the table then walked off. I have never been treated with this degree of disrespect at a restaurant. Owners need to reevaluate their hiring policy.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/7/2011

    We sat in the dining area away from the bar, and it wasn't hard to have a conversation. The music was slightly louder than normal, but definitely not distracting. The bar might have been a different story. Overall a nice ambiance for early on a Saturday night.

    As for the food, we had the jamon iberico, mixed vegetable tapas, and a shrimp dish. The jamon was good, but definitely not like you would get in Spain. Texture wise, it seemed a bit too soft. The shrimp was pretty tasty. The vegetables were good but slightly oily for my taste.

    The only real disappointment was the sangria. Another reviewer compared it to spiked fruit punch and I'd have to agree with that. I had four glasses & barely felt a buzz.

    This place is a nice departure from downtown restaurants, but nothing special.  

    PS- they don't take reservations after 5pm.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/31/2012

    Alright, in this review I'm gonna be short and not talk about the food, which is adequate at best.  Great date restaurant when you are starting to get to know someone but still aren't sure about them, because this place won't break the bank and it is casual.  Pitcher of sangria, three tapas and you are both drunk and fed for 35 bucks or less and you won't look cheap.  Hard to find that in Chicago.  Not too fancy, just a good spot to hang out.  I would advise sitting on the the other side of the wrap around bar.

    Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba does it better for tapashands down, but this spot is a go to.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/1/2012

    Overall this restaurant was very good as the tapas selections were quite tasty. I would go again though the vegetarian paella, the hallmark of any Spanish restaurant, was overlooked and rather lacking in flavor. The potatoes in a spicy tomato based sauce were fantastic.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/28/2012

    This restaurant is very big. You will not be able to realize this until you walk in ( from the entrance your not sure if it is a small place or what). There are about 3 pages of tapas options with pictures next to each, which is helpful to visualize what you are getting.

    Food - my group of 3 we got 4-5 dishes which were all good.

    Service - one of our orders never came and we had to ask to get our waters refilled which was disappointing.

    Most of the tables in our area had children, but the noise level was not bad for a comfortable conversation.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/8/2011

    Yummy tapas...but...

    Me and my husband had been thinking about going to Cafe Iberico since we enjoyed tapas at Cafe Babareeba. Since this place has an overwhelming number of yelpers giving it such a high rating we chose to dine here on a weekday hoping that it would be less crowded and exactly as we thought we were immediately seated. The pitcher of sangria was delightful, felt very light and refreshing. As vegetarians we found plenty of options (that doesn't happen in most places). Since it was a rainy day we chose not order any of the cold tapas. The patatas bravas was comfort food redefined and we really enjoyed the queso de cabra. But the real test was the paella and as far as the vegetarian option is concerned the one we ate at Cafe babareeba was much better. Bizcocho borracho which is the Spanish version of tiramisu with the strawberry puree was truly the icing on the cake!!

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/8/2011
    1 check-in

    *** Solid 3.5 ***

    I think it really depends on where you it in this restaurant. I really don't prefer their lower level or some of the very odd places they seat you.They also pack you in like sardines (during Fri & Sat evenings) which I don't really care for either.

    It's a decent tapas place in the city and somewhere I would take guests coming in from out of town. They have a huge menu and you can find something for everyone whether they are vegetarian, meat eater, seafood lover, or all of the above.

    I came here on a Saturday afternoon and it was not packed at all! It was a nice surprised and you can actually have a conversation with your meal mates. Otherwise, during their peak hours, the restaurant gets really LOUD and you can barely hear the person you're enjoying your meal with.

    I've never gotten anything that's bad there - maybe something I wouldn't order again as it's just not my favorite flavor profile.

    TIP - Usually when it's on the "Daily Specials" list, the meat/seafood is fresh and a good option to have.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/1/2012

    This place is always packed and noisy great option to go with a good group of friends. Not exactly a good conversation dinner place for 2.  The food is delish, my faves are patatas bravas,and champinones and white sangrias.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/1/2013

    My favorite tapas place! Great and inexpensive food and awesome sangria. My favorite tapas are octopus and potatoes, steak skewered and sea scallops. Restaurant is casual with a very lively ambiance, can be very loud during the weekend nights - so you may avoid bringing your date on Saturday night if you care to have a decent conversation. Enjoy!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/6/2011

    I have been to this restaurant numerous times,often for special occasions.

    The experience at the restaurant is always nice and the food is really good. I have been to other tapas restaurants in Chicago, but I would say that this restaurant is my favorite one.

    I have always gone to this restaurant with a group of people, and so get to try lots of different tapas. My favorites and the ones I always order are the goat cheese in marinara sauce, the garlic shrimp, and the grilled octopus.

    This place also has really good sangria. Again, I have tried sangria at many Chicago restaurants and this is one of the best.

    I will definitely continue to go to Cafe Iberico. I prefer going on evenings when reservations can be made. Otherwise, the wait is just too long.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/30/2010

    Fresh tomatoes should be served room temperature, not ice cold; and there is supposed to be garlic in Spanish tomato sauce. Also, hiring Mexicans to work at your Spanish restaurant doesn't make it authentic.
    Besides that it was good and it's very cool it's open til midnight on Sundays.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/4/2012

    Great food (you have to try the spicy potatoes and the fresh seafood tapas)! Amazing ambiance (latin music playing and lots of variety at the bar tv's)! Fantastic service!

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/27/2008

    I used to love love this place and must have dinned here more then 10 times, but over the years I have noticed the quality of the food went way down, pretty much after they renovated. Last time I had their Vegetarian paella with "fresh vegetables" all I tasted was  Velveeta cheese and frozen beans... STAY AWAY FROM THE PAELLA!!!
    One menu item that is worth coming for is the PULPO A LA PLANCHA $8.50 (Grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil)
    Speaking of the olive oil.....The olive oil on the table sometimes is rancid, You will know what I am talking about the minute you try your bread..I do not get it....I would be embarrassed to serve my guests rancid olive oil. But I guess if you are trying to cut corners and save on cost things will get served that should never be served. EVER.

    The sangria also is a hit or miss. Sometimes it is so watered down that  you feel like you are drinking Ocean Spray

    If they have not changed cooks or servers overnight  and granted that you get seated without waiting 45 minutes you will have a pleasant experience.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/3/2012
    2 check-ins

    She whispered sweet nothings in my ear. She touched my lips then my tongue. I closed my eyes. Such a magical moment. Her name you ask? Her name is Cafe Iberico. Cafe Iberico is a Tapas bar on Lasalle in the near north side. I've tried several Tapas bars in Chicago, but this is the best one. The special soup of the week was garbanzo with ham. The soup was rich and flavorful. I was disappointed when i realized that I had tasted my last spoonful. The assorted chorizo plate was a symphony of different chorizo styles. You can never have too much Spanish chorizo. The paella marinera was delicious.  The dish was perfectly cooked and full of shrimp and assorted shell fish. A squeeze of lemon and the melange of flavors will keep you happy until the last bite! I'll never forget the special time I spent at Cafe Iberico. I think I'll be seeing her on a steady basis.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/1/2009

    My friends took me here for my birthday on a Sunday for lunch.
    Service was decent since there weren't that many people.
    The food was delicious!!! We ordered the Chicken Croquettes, Chicken on a skewer with Aioli Sauce & Spanish rice, Beef tenderloins with caramelized onions and fried octopus with french fries.
    The goat cheese in tomato sauce was ok.
    The caramelized banana with vanilla ice cream was also pretty good but I wouldn't say that it was the best.
    I would definitely return here again if I visit Chicago.
    I recommend for people to try out this place.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/18/2011
    1 check-in

    I'm such a glutton sometimes, but what I love most about Cafe Iberico, is that immediately after you order food starts arriving. I like the small plates that come in stages. it's like going to a buffet, but not having to stand up. Ahhh, truly lazy feedings. I went recently for the first time. The food was good. It wasn't the best tapas I've had, and the atmosphere is crazy loud (even though I was there for an early dinner and it wasn't full), but it's reasonably priced, tasty, and I will definitely be back.

    You have to get the goat cheese marinara. So good! Plus, they would have had 4 stars, but no bacon wrapped dates. What? No bacon wrapped dates??!?

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/5/2011

    Delicious! Tasty and super scene... this place is a cool place to just to be in. The queso de cabra and croquetas de pollo are incredible! Ooh and if you top it off with either a great sangria or mojito you are in heaven...

    is the wait long? yes it is... is it worth it at the end? Definitey! This is a place where you just explore and can come in a group.. enjoy!

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/1/2013

    I came here because I asked a friend where I could get good spanish tapas and they pointed me to cafe iberico. I had cafe babareeba the week before and loved it and my friend assured me this place was better. I really wanted to love cafe iberico but was totally unimpressed. The good service is the only reason I didn't give this place 1 star. The seafood paella was just bad. It was flavorless and the rice was undercooked. The ham and chicken croquettes were not bad but there was way too much sauce on the plate and they dunked the croquettes in the mediocre sauce. The calamari was meh...nothing special. The 3 roasted peppers with bread was good...my favorite thing we had. The beef brisket was the special of the night and that was also good. The flan was probably one of the worst flans I have had in a long time...the texture was not smooth. The beef skewers were not tender, but did have decent flavor. The veal empandas were aiite but again, nothing special (crust was meh). Also I was disappointed that u have to sit at the bar to order the pintox!! That makes no sense. Cafe babareeba is just leaps and bound better than this place. I will personally never go back to cafe iberico.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/20/2010

    So I'll post this as a mini-comparison to BaBaReeba. Iberico wins on the sangria, I felt a slight buzz from sharing a pitcher with two friends (maybe I'm just a featherweight), and it was delicious. Ordered a full pitcher for me and my wife at BaBaReeba and it was like drinking gatorade.

    Iberico - not sure who planned the acoustics here but this place is like a giant amplifier, so be prepared to walk out with a sore throat if you plan on having a conversation with anyone other than the person seated next to you. I'm calling them out on this because it's a prevantable problem. Also, it's a bit like sitting in a college cafeteria, just long tables and cheap chairs everywhere. Atmosphere at BaBaReeba is nicer, I usually try to get a table outside but they also have warm, comfortable inside seating. Sure it gets crowded, but all good places do.

    Food, well, that's going to be up to the individual. My preference is BaBaReeba. Potatoes are better, and if you can't do justice to the spicy potatoes than you lose. But overall, since this is an Iberico review, it's delicious and you shouldn't walk away disappointed with the tastes you encounter.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/15/2011

    A great dining experience is only 80% dependent on the quality of the food.  The other 20%:intangibles.....and they can make a 4 star meal turn the corner into legendary 5 star status.

    Cafe Iberico is Tapas done to perfection.  Every time I visit Chicago this spot gets the nod and consistently delivers.

    There are other good Tapas joints in Chicago but there is something dare I say, special, about this place.

    Things to Love
    -pictures on the Menu.....its the original point and click
    -the Charred Octopus....holy crunchy goodness Batman!
    -spicy potatoes
    -Sangria
    -Surprisingly Inexpensive for a restaurant in the 60610
    -atmosphere....its crowded but remains inviting to this claustrophobe

    Worth the trip?  Hmmm is it worth driving 3hours....180 minutes......1/8 of a total day?  Absolutely.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/29/2010
    1 check-in

    This place is good, and you can tell by the wait, sometimes it's out the door! We have never minded the wait though, because it gives you a chance to drink some of their fantastic sangria at the bar, I prefer white, but they have red as well.

    When it comes to food... I love love love their Patatas Ali-oli... red potatos smothered in garlicy-mayo heaven. Be warned... it will leave you breath garlicky for HOURS... but regardless, SO GOOD!!

    I also like the Pincho de Pollo... chicken with some secret delicious sauce and caramelized onions.... don't miss it.

    The Patatas Bravas are good too.. they have a slight kick!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/31/2013

    We had dinner here last night. Cafe Iberico is one of my favorite places for tapas. They are very tasty, reasonably priced and have good variety. A tip is to order the paella first as it will take some time for it to cook.  Meanwhile, have tapas while you wait. We had the Cafe Iberico paella and the seafood paella. Both are pretty similar (the Cafe Iberico has pork and chicken in addition to the seafood). For tapas we had three calamari/squid dishes, the croquettes (a must try), and two orders of bacon wrapped dates. We probably should have ordered more variety, but this (along with the paella) was enough for five people. We did not have sangria or alcohol, and so for five, our bill came out to about $22 per person (that's with tax and tip included)! Valet parking is an additional $12 plus gratuity. This is a great place for groups--the atmosphere is lively and energetic, and there is plenty of group seating.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/4/2011

    This place is simply amazing!!  

    In the 6 years I lived in Chicago and frequented this place, it NEVER disappointed.  There is a reason why Cafe Iberico is always crowded on weekends!  Hands down the best tapas I've had and perhaps one of the best relatively-affordable restaurants in Chicago.  Don't hesitate to go!

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    8/13/2010

    Came here for a birthday party. The food is quite good, it reminds me of chinese dim sum; many dishes meant to be shared.

    Forgive me I dont know what the dish names are but they're pretty good. Shoot.. All i can remember was two pitchers of Sangrias, lots of toast and sauce dipping. Mussels in a tomato based sauce.. blah.. but Clams in a cream/cheese sauce and green onions.. woohoo!!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/19/2012
    1 check-in

    To be honest, I'm not that much into Spanish food but this place really nailed it. The tapas are very good and in bigger portions than I expected. Their patatas al ajillo are delicious! The staff was super fast in getting our order and they were very attentive throughout the evening, and their prices were very affordable. There's a nice atmosphere to the place too and after ordering the pitcher of sangria you probably will feel like staying a few hours too...

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/4/2011
    1 check-in

    Hello, dance floor! I'm not quite sure how I got to boystown and ended up on you, but I have a feeling that its got something to do with Cafe Iberico's amazing sangria.

    A night on the town playing wingwoman to the most fabulous men in the world led me to Cafe Iberico. Seating in the bar area on Saturday is a toughie. Luckily, they've got a whole level of seating on the top floor!

    I can't remember much from that night, but I DO remember that the dining area was decorated in warm yellows and oranges, with bright splashes of red to catch attention.

    Our waiter was a total sweetheart; heaviest spanish accent I've heard in my life, but it alerts ya to the authenticity of the food. Yay!

    The meal comes with bread, which was perfect to munch on with our yummy tapas. They include:

    1. Gambas al Ajillo/ Wonderous, delcious garlic shrimp.
    2. Queso de Cabra/ Goat cheese and marinara sauce. Also delicious.
    3. Champinones a la Plancha/Garlic mushrooms. Fabulous Delicious (Seeing a theme here?)
    4. Patatas Bravas/ Potatoes in a Spicy Tomatoes sauce. Holy moly batman, get me another order of those.

    And four pitchers of sangria. For four people. So, like a pitcher per person.

    What a great way to start the night. :)

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/7/2012

    I went to Cafe Iberico for my birthday last month.  As a returning customer I could not have picked a better place. There are two plate Items that are a must every time. the mussels and the dates!!!  Our waiter Alex was alot of fun and very informative about the menu. He also brought me out a special treat.  If you love to eat and want to show your friends A GREAT TIME with GREAT FOOD ,  this is the place to be!

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/25/2011

    This place was disappointing.  The food was just average to below average.  I could have cooked some dishes better and if that's the case I'd rather eat at home.

    I got 4 different tapas dishes (baked goat cheese, beef skewers, scallops in saffron sauce, and a salad) none of which were anything special.  In fact, I was a bit shocked at how poor the goat cheese was and the scallops were as flat as pancakes.

    The place was absurdly loud.  I don't think I've been in a louder restaurant.  The service was borderline rude at times.  

    It did have good sangria.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/6/2011
    2 check-ins

    Cafe Iberico is more than just tapas and sangria.  The energy of this restaurant really stands out and enhances your experience.  Every patron is laughing, smiling, sampling some shrimp or croquettas from their table mates.

    I strongly recommend Cafe Iberico and ignore any comments or suggestions that Cafe Babareeba is superior.  It is not.

    Cheers.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/5/2012

    Visited Cafe Iberico on 12.01.12 for an early dinner.   The food was pretty good, but the service and ambience  was TERRIBLE.  We were a party of four seated at a small table in a very crowded room - there was no room to even pull your chair out to sit down because you were bumping the person seated behind you.  All the food came out at once - there was no place on the table to place the food, and yet the servers continued to bring our full order out.

    We had to ask for our table to be cleaned up; we had to ask for clean plates - there was a dirty plate on the table when we were seated.  The waitress was sick and coughed the whole time she was taking our order.    

    There are better tapas restuarants in Chicago and suburbs.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/27/2012
    1 check-in

    Pinxtos Bar was good. It wasn't the best, but it also wasn't the worst. The sangria was ok. We had gotten the CHORIZO Y MORCILLA, which we couldn't tell which sausage was which. Then we also had gotten PAELLA MARINERA, which was delicious. The paella's are large, so it's a good sharing size. There was also a black squid paella we had gotten I think it was. That was better,but keep in mind your teeth will be grayish by the end of dinner. Cafe Iberico is good and inexpensive.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/15/2011
    6 check-ins

    I've been here a number of times, always pleased with the service, food, and the experience as a whole.

    I always order the Paella Ibérica. It takes a while, (I think they say 45 minutes) but it is well worth the wait. It has a bit of everything: chicken, pork, and all sorts of different seafood.

    Their sangria pitchers are pretty delicious, too. Equally important is that we have never felt rushed here while working on these.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/7/2013

    Sorry, I just don't understand all the hype here.  The food is good, but not great, but the atmosphere is like eating in a cafeteria.  Pass.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/15/2010
    1 check-in

    I've been here 3x now and especially after last night I can't wait to go back. Reasons you should love it:

    - CHEAP SANGRIA, I really cannot emphasize enough that $16 for a pitcher is amazing and it will be enough for most groups of 4 (or two really committed drinkers, I'm not gonna judge you!)

    - Great selection of reasonably priced tapas. Try the serrano and manchego, the balsamic artichokes, the Spanish sausage selection, the baked goat cheese is a complete must and if you want paella, the Paella Iberica has been flawless every time I've gotten it.

    - The wait is short even on a weekend, and if you don't want to wait at all I highly recommend eating your whole dinner at the bar. It's comfortable and the service at the bar is excellent.

    - Free bread. I know this is petty but I like this bread and they keep it coming, perfect for mopping up the last bit of delicious off your plate.

    I've also been here with friends and on dates and I have to say that it's especially perfect for a date. I think I actually prefer sitting at the bar on dates too, it's nice and cozy and the loud chatter of the room facilitates lots of leaning in close to hear each other better if you know what I mean.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/7/2011

    When I lived in Chicago I ate here 1-2 but never left impressed until this past weekend (mainly cause I prefer cafe ba ba reeba, but they were closed early Sunday on July 4th.)

    I am writing this review because of one mind-blowing dish. THE MUSSELS! OMG! We were actually sucking the delicious juice off of the shells like it was liquid gold. Perfectly seasoned is an understatement! Just amazing good stuff. Unfortunately, the churrascco dish we had was just MEH after eating those Mussels. The white wine sangria was ok, but too many lemons hence a overly citrus taste for me. But others might like that.

    Def try those Mussels!

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/17/2012
    3 check-ins

    This place is simply great. The prices are good and the food is absolutely great. The one thing I'll say is it can get busy and the service can be a touch on the slow side. But, just order some sangria early and enjoy that for a bit as you wait. I've yet to have a bad tapas here. Most people have already hit the nail on the head but I love the food. The pulpo always seems fresh and is cooked very well. The queso de cabra is always tasty as is the patatas bravas which aren't too spicey and have good flavor. I had the ensalad ruso the last time I was there and it was good, but had a little too much tuna for my liking but that's a minor complaint. But all in all this place is just awesome. Give it a try!

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/9/2012

    By far my favorite restaurant of all time! I celebrated my 21st bday here and 10 years later I'm still loving on this place! Iberico has it all...great atmosphere (it's always packed), delicious sangria and super tasty food that you can't find at any other tapas place. The sangria is always flowing in large or small groups. It's a fun place to start your night.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/14/2011
    1 check-in

    i couldn't believe what a good deal this was. a group of about 10- everyone was ordering whatever they wanted, and no one was really keeping track of how much we were ordering, including pitchers of sangria, and it came out to only $27 per person, including tax and tip. i was expecting twice that, just cuz we ordered so much. i ate and drank more than i planned on and everything was delicious.

    favorite dishes were the baked goat cheese, empanadas, carne asada (it was like pot roast, so tender), and some kind of shrimp that was in a skillet. the spicy potatoes were pretty good. i had a bite of arroz con leche for dessert. mmmm.

    really the only downside is that it's always super busy. we had to wait about 45 minutes for a table. but... large groups are harder to seat so probably not such a long wait for smaller groups.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/2/2011

    My co-workers and I order from here quite often when we have late nights at the office and I have to say we are always pleased with everything. The food is always great and we always get our order on time. I could probably give this place five stars, I just need to try out more of the menu!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/26/2012

    Love this place.  The chocolate flan is so good.  They put it on a plate of strawberry sauce, I think....Soooo good.  The food is good here.  Great patatas bravas.  

    It is loud here and busy.  Coming after work or weekend nights-it's crowded!  The place is huge but its always popping!  

    The food is worth the wait no matter how busy it is.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/25/2011

    I went to Cafe Iberico with a friend for the first time a few months back. One of my best friends has been raving about it for years, but we never seemed to find time to go when we were in the city (now I live a few blocks away). It was a Friday around 5:30pm. It wasn't very busy (yet) and we were seated immediately upstairs.

    We sampled the white and red sangria, both were very good and we ended up getting a pitcher of the red. We ordered the ENSALADA DE VEGETALES (season grilled vegggies marinated in a sherry vinagerette) and one of the specials (which I cannot remember). Both were very good. We definitely wanted to try some dessert so we got PERAS AL VINO (poached pears in red wine w/ ice cream)  and pLATANO DE CARAMELO (Sautéed banana with caramel sauce w/ vanilla ice cream). The desserts were DELICIOUS! We ate them in less than 5 minutes!

    I went back about a month or so ago with my boyfriend. This time we were seated downstairs and it was a bit later on a Friday (maybe 7ish). Still seated right away, but it was a bit louder downstairs. We ordered the Ensalada de Vegetales, PAELLA IBERICA (w/o seafood), some sort of spicy sausage tapa, and of course a pitcher of the red sangria. All very good (and no room for dessert).

    I'll definitely be going back again sometime....and this time I won't be too full for dessert!

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/1/2012
    1 check-in

    You get what you pay for, first of all, and I came to the downtown location with reservations after seeing the reviews all over the map, and I think this is a very fair and balanced review after I'd flipped through 2 pages of reviews and scoured the quick tips.

    First, this place is quite affordable for tapas, that should speak for itself and the expectations you want to set. For 5 of us, dinner food + tax + tip came to around $15 each and then some of us got sangria. Don't come to an affordable place with hundreds of seats and then expect that the waiters are going to catch every fork you drop. That being said, the low level of service here is entertaining. We sat right by a dish station so we heard lots of clattering. Our waiter nearly spilled sangria on us as he poured, gave us 4 plates instead of 5, and one of them was dirty. However, look at the big picture. The restaurant is packed. There's usually a bit of a wait for tables. The upfront bar is narrowly designed WITH seating so you create a traffic flow problem. The seats on the main floor are cramped and the conversation is so loud I can barely hear myself talk. Do you expect waiters to walk with grace or be able to notice every person's needs? Probably not. Even so, for the prices I was paying, the service is still subpar, which is dragging this review down to a 2.

    Quality of food: Don't expect it to be 5-star, however, I'd give the food 3 stars, and that is why I'm so perplexed why this place gets so packed. Then, perhaps many of you do not know what real amazing paella should taste like, and having visited Barcelona, I guess my taste buds were spoiled. Again, for a conveniently located restaurant, with affordable prices, high turnover, huge number of dining guests, expect mediocre food. My friend recommended the PULPO A LA PLANCHA (grilled octopus) and I squirmed eating it. I'm always a little hesitant to eat seafood from a casual restaurant in the midwest, and this one the texture was not crispy all the way through - in fact, some pieces of octopus were downright mushy. However, I did like the potatoes. We also ordered PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO (beef tenderloin skewer). The beef was decent, but I think the winner here were the caramelized onions. For entrees we tried the Paella Iberica (allow for time). As far as paellas go, this is low-quality to mediocre. The rice is bland, bits of protein are scarce, and I was hoping for more saffron to come through but I guess they were being stingy. My favorite dish of the whole night was actually the POLLO A LA ANDALUZA (sauteed chicken breast with green and black olives). The chicken was tender and cooked all the way through (thank goodness), and I was impressed withe complexity of the sauce. On the whole this was the one dish which I felt was worth having again.

    The ambiance about this place is a whole other level of crazy. I sat facing the large TV monitor that played cheesy low-budget high-makeout music videos all night long - kid friendly? natch. Even one of the waiters noticed us making fun of the videos and said, "we have a lot of bad videos for you to watch!" I thought he was pretty funny. However, I did not like the ambiance either. Compared to most other tapas places I go to on the east coast (there you go - I'm pretentious), this place was too loud, too big, too hurtful on the eyes. I'm just not sure if the ambiance was ever intentional or someone dreamed it up as a joke one day, and if so, well, I was definitely entertained.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/23/2011
    1 check-in

    I came here last night with my parents on their first night in Chicago. They're staying at the Westin River North, and it was around 9pm and we wanted something tasty but not in the $$$$ range most River North restaurants tend to fall into. Once I realized that we were close to Cafe Iberico, we made the decision to go there, because everyone I know loves it.

    I was pretty impressed. They've got the classic tapas dishes you find at all tapas places, but they're very well done. The Patatas Bravas were ACTUALLY spicy here, not just mildly spiced like at most places. We also tried the Chorizo y Morcilla (sausage sampler plate) and it was pretty awesome - chorizo and a ham-like sausage, but also a black sausage that usually I would never eat (blood is weird) but that I tried and actually ate an entire slice myself.

    We also got a few of their weekly specials. (These aren't listed on their webpage so I can't tell you the Spanish names, unfortunately.) We had a grilled beef dish with potatoes and peppers that was pretty tasty. The potato and goat cheese croquettes with a roasted pepper sauce were really really good, bonus points for having bread at the table to sop up extra sauce. But what was really good (and which a lot of people probably wouldn't think to order) was the grilled cuttlefish with squid ink and pasta. I know, squid ink is kinda gross. I even usually don't eat things with tentacles. But this stuff was GOOD. Tender cuttlefish, more like the texture of a scallop, and the squid ink sauce was almost sweet tasting. By far the best dish we ordered.

    The pitcher of sangria was also tasty, and huge for only $15. We shared it between 4 people, and everyone got at least 2 glasses.

    My only complaint - it's really noisy in there. I don't know if it was because we were sandwiched in between 2 parties of very excited 20-year-old girls, or if it was the bus boy who kept dropping things, but the noise level seemed high for a Thursday night. Luckily the food was good :)

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/4/2009

    Cafe Iberico is my favorite tapas restaurant in the city.  I love that it is enormous, because there are plenty of tables so that you don't have to wait very long during the week.  On the weekends, you will have more trouble, especially if you come in as a big group.  Although they are able to accomodate large groups very well, it is such a hopping place on the weekends that the last time i came here as a group of 12, even though we had reservations, we had to wait 2 hours for our table.  If they hadn't given us three pitchers of sangria while we waited, there is no way I would have stayed around.

    Some of my favorite dishes are the grilled octopus and the cucumber and salmon sandwiches.  They give you plenty of food and enough for you to take home if you get more than one dish, at a reasonable price.   I also don't mind their sangria, although I don't particularly care for sangria as a rule.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/23/2011

    Nice Spanish food, enjoyed all kinds of cold and hot tapas sitting in the bar. The pealle iberico is also great, with seafood, chicken and pork.

    Highly recommend the tapas olives, and the Spanish omelet is great!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/28/2010

    I'm very conflicted about this place.  Luckily, when I dined here I was in a great mood in the presence of some great company.  If this were not the case, I assure you a star would be missing from this rating.

    We went on a Saturday night around 8:15.  The wait was fast, just enough time to grab a glass of sangria at the bar.  I believe that we could have easily grabbed 2 drinks, alas, the bartender was an idiot.  However, the beverage was mm mm good.

    When the giant TV screen (which played nothing but the cheesiest of the cheesy music videos [ ie: The Macarena]) displayed "Alexandria party of 2" scrolling across the bottom, we were promptly escorted to our table in one of the 50 giant dining rooms.  By the time we sat down, I had already lost some hearing in both ears and I knew that in order to have a conversation with my friend 14 inches away from me, I would have to seriously exercise my vocal chords.  This place is LOUD!!!  The acoustics definitely hit "an 11".  

    Rather than engaging in any witty banter, we just picked up our menus and each picked out 2 small plates to share.  Unfortunately, we had to do this through gestures (meaning, point at the menu and either nod, shake our heads, or give a facial expression indicating our opinion about said choices) because talking about what we wanted wasn't an option.  About 20 minutes of sitting in "silence", our waiter finally came to take our order.  

    We opted for a pitcher of sangria and the following:
    Gambas Al Ajillo (grilled shrimp)- FIVE STARS, AMAZING

    Champinones a la plancha (grilled mushrooms)- FIVE STARS. If I had to eat something everyday for the rest of my life, this dish would be in the running.

    Pincho De Solomillo (Beef Tenderloin w/fries and carmelized onions)- FOUR STARS.  The beef was not exciting at all, but the onions and fries were orgasmic.

    Pulpo a la Plancha (grilled octopus w/potatoes and olive oil)- FIVE STARS. Perfected cooked octopus, amazing flavor, and I loved the fact that it was all intermingles with the potatoes (which were actually fries, but still, it was goooooood)

    All the portions were generous as far as "small plates" go, and we were both full.  4 dishes plus a pitcher of sangria all was just under $45.  Pretty good deal for a nice night out!

    So, the food and drinks were amazing.  SO good, that it would be worth the lack of conversation, the terrible (!!!) service, and braving the loud, over-dressed, and rather hoity toity crowd.  

    Just be sure you're in a good mood before you enter!

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/17/2011

    Go here if you want to have an authentic eating in Spain experience. By that I mean you will feel ripped off like I did when I dined in Spain.

    If you order soda here, know that refills do not come free. They don't even give you a can. It's from the fountain at their bar. Also just like in Spain, bread is not complimentary. They also have fancy bottled water at every table. If you don't ask specifically for tap, they will charge you for the bottle. (In Spain though, there's no concept of tap, you always pay for the bottle so you might as well get soda, wine, or beer.)

    The bf and I ordered the pulpo a la plancha and the patatas bravas. The octopus was decent; came with skinny fries. The potatoes were meh, nothing to write home about.

    The service was okay. No complaints there.

    Overall the meal was overpriced and mediocre at best. I would only recommend going here if you want a preview of what to expect in Spain/cities like Barcelona (I will say that the dining experiences were better in San Sebastian).

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/17/2009
    2 check-ins
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    Went for the first time a few weeks ago, loved everything!

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/13/2010

    Cafe Iberico is thy name and bipolar, inconsistent quality Spanish cuisine is thy game.

    Two out of five stars because hell yes I've experienced better (read: Mercat, Babareeba, dare I say People Lounge?). Every time I dine here it's like a whole 'nother experience. And trust me when I say, it's not for the better.

    I came here tonight and shared the calamares, the patatas ali-oli, queso de cabra and a plate of seafood paella. Zzzzz, wait, am I still writing a review here? Yes, unfortunately I am. Wake up Tash, the people have to know!

    The last time I came here (February of this year) the entire course was amazing, I couldn't get enough. Tonight however was another story: the calamares were tasteless, though grilled they were just doused in oil. What's weird was that the first bite of the squid was really good, when I went back for seconds I was so put off and bored by the non-flavor flavor that I was confused, did the waiter swap out the plate on me?

    The queso de cabra is not well balanced, the tangy tomato sauce overpowers the goat cheese, there was no blending of flavors here folks, just a pot of tomato sauce with a dollop of goat cheese in the center. The patatas ali-oli were okay, though you can't really mess up potatoes and mayonaise right?

    The paella which was the saddest thing on the table, was sorely overcooked. The shrimp and mussels were rubbery and chewy to the point that I had to stop eating. Next.

    Yet another gripe was the noise level here. It's Tuesday night, come the f*** on, who are these 35+ y/o rowdy hooligans yelling at the top of their lungs at 8pm? I couldn't hear my aunt nor my waiter without straining to hear and replying in yells. Yep, I yelled all night. This is ridiculous, when you dine downstairs it's dark and and though not quiet, it's a like eating at an entirely different restaurant. That said, don't ever try to get seated upstairs.

    Better yet, do yourself a favor, pull out the extra cash and get yourself to Mercat a la Planxa ahora.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/11/2011

    I have such a soft spot for this place.  My husband and I ate there several times during our honeymoon.  After multiple visits over many years, I just have deep affection for it.

    The Patatas Ali-Oli are just so fabulous.  You can't go wrong with potatoes smothered in mayonnaise and garlic.  So delicious.  It haunts my dreams.  The tortilla (egg and potatoes are also always good) ain't half bad either.  The seafood paella was good, but not amazing.  My hubby loves the Chorizo plate.

    The sangria is good for the price.  It can please a wide range of tasts.

    Not a good place for kids.  Just ask my son.  But it is a good place for a group.  

    It can get very loud and the videos playing in the background is a bit much.  But still, I love this place...

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/16/2011

    I understand that people didn't like the noise level, but I felt comfortable here. Very attentive staff, which can be hard to find in tapas joints.
    Biggest complaint would be that the chorizo and morcilla only came with two pieces morcilla (but I was the only one who enjoyed it). They also skimp on the croquetas I think- those things are too good to only get 5 :)
    We had the white sangria (a pitcher) and it was a great compliment to our food.
    I felt the prices were reasonable and it was a great place to sit and chat without feeling rushed at all! Loved it, I'll be back!
    ps- While I enjoy Enrique Iglesias, I couldn't help but notice that almost every single one of his hits was played in the 90 minutes we spent there!

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/29/2008

    Iberico has become a personal favorite of mine.  Mainly because of one never-fail reason: Cheap sangria.  I also work nearby, and that's convenient.  

    This place gets cer-azy busy later on most nights, but you can saunter right up to the bar and order food to avoid waiting for a table.  There is seating on the main level and lower level - 3 separate bar areas, and the place is pretty huge!  The servers really seem to hustle too, although it does seem to get pretty hectic in there.  

    Disappointments:  
    1. I think they recycle the bread starters here, and I was very sad/disgusted to see this because I always wolf down the bread every single time.  However, while sitting at the bar one time, my friend and I witnessed two 1/2 empty bread baskets come to the bar staff - not to the kitchen? not the trash can? and we then lost track of what happened to the bread, but our guess is that it went out as 1 full recycled basket.  Maybe this happens at a lot of restaurants, I don't know...  Ignorance is bliss.
    2. Menu prices have increased and I'm not happy about it.  All in all, Iberico is pretty cheap, but they have risen a bit and the dishes, as expected for a tapas place, are small.  Very tasty though.  The scallops are amazing!!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/14/2012

    Lived in Spain for 6 years.  This place has the most authentic Spanish food in Chicago.  Real sangria and real tapas.  Always lots of Spaniards here.  

    I'm a high school teacher and I take a field trip here every year.  Just wish all the staff spoke Spanish.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/6/2011

    Solid place for dinner on the weekdays.  Got the goat cheese, squid, scallops, mixteca salad, spicy potatoes, beef skewers, and pitcher of white sangria - total bill with tip was $80

    Scallops and the white wine sangria were hands down the best out of the meal - left full and happy!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/13/2012

    It is by far my favorite tapas restaurant in Chicago. The prices, sangria, atmosphere, location, service, and especially the food bring me back here over and over. There is not much on the dish that I wouldn't recommend, and there is something for every type of taste bud. On Sunday afternoons, the place is quiet and peaceful, and at night (almost any night), it's definitely lively. The patatas bravas and the pincho de pollo are my absolute favorite dishes. Try them all...you'll be hooked.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/12/2012

    Excellent! Tasty! And sangria it's a must. Very good overall, but get here early on weekends or u would have to wait because they get superbussy.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/11/2011
    7 check-ins

    Good tapas and Sangria. Great place to unwind with friends on Friday night!

    This place is buzzing on a Friday night.  If you're looking for some peace and quiet, this isn't a place for you.  But if you're looking to kick back and unwind with a group of friends at the end of a long week..this place is great.  There can be a wait on a Friday night but you can get started with Sangria at the bar while you wait.

    The ambiance is different depending on which section you sit in.  The section to the left of the bar is a little darker and louder..more of a late night  feel.  The other side is quieter and seems more appropriate for a family dinner.  

    The tapas is pretty good. We ordered a lot of different things off the menu among the four of us and it was all tasty. And the ubiquitous sangria there is a must order there.  

    They were very busy the Friday night I were there but the service was prompt and friendly.

    Definitely worthwhile if you don't mind waiting a bit.

  • 1.0 star rating
    11/11/2012

    The service was AWFUL.... We had to ask for someone to please take our order after waiting for 20 minutes after we were rushed to sit down..when we asked for anything it took FOREVER and it was so LOUD.. Servers and management have absolutely no people skills.. The food is OK nothing special.... This place is a major disappointment and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, don't waste your time or money HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/27/2011
    2 check-ins

    The best spot in Chicago for spanish tapas.  There's so many good dishes to choose from that it's hard to decide what to get and how many.  Each plate comes with about 4 servings so I would recommend ordering  two dishes per person and sharing.  some of my tried and true dishes are......

    Baby clams/white wine sauce - esp love dipping the bread in the sauce
    Grilled scallops with saffron rice - sauce. amazing.
    Baked goat cheese with tomato basil - delicious just wish there was more of the tomato basil...and more bread
    Smoked salmon with capers and fresh dill sauce - salmon perfectly smoked; bread perfectly toasted
    Beef skewers with fries and grilled onions - the beef is excellent but the star of this dish is the greasy but super tasty fries
    Dessertwise the caramel flan and creme brulee are delicious but the one dessert i always have to have is the arroz con leche. slightly sweet, light and fluffy and oh so delicious.

    Not the ideal place for a quiet romantic date night but definitely the place to be if you're having a fun night out with friends!

  • 1.0 star rating
    2/21/2012

    I used to love this place several years ago, but the restaurant has really taken a gift horse in the mouth with its service.  The food has always been good, but it's no excuse for being rude to your customers, unapologetic for mistakes, and downright snotty when in the wrong.

    Dining at Iberico last Friday, the manager on duty tried to charge me for a dish that was NOT what I ordered.  I ordered a seafood paella (that took 60 minutes to make), and a veggie paella came out.  After letting the waitress know, she went back to the manager and they said they would comp the paella.  Then as we leave, the paella was charged on the bill and the manager was ADAMANT we pay for it since we picked at it.  After an unpleasant conversation with the manager whom wasn't the least bit apologetic, I asked for her boss, to which her response was "I AM the boss".  Please.  She wouldn't be able to run a taco bell cash register if her life depended on it.  

    In the end, she took it off the bill, threw the leftovers out instead of letting us take it (poor bums).  And I will never be back to Iberico again.  Go Tapas Valencia!

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/5/2012

    Great place for tapas! The sangria was very good too.  My party of four probably ordered about 10 different dishes. We enjoyed tasting everything but there was one I didn't enjoy, a blood sausage.  Other than that I had a nice meal here and will go back in the future.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/10/2011

    When I think of Tapas, I think of robust flavors exploding with a bang. But dining at Iberico makes it seem like a hint of spice imploding with a whimper.

    The sangria is delicious, the prices are very reasonable, the ambiance is great, the service isn't bad and this is one of the few tapas restaurants in Chicago to serve a veggie paella.

    But the taste of the food just doesn't match up to Ba Ba Reeba or Emilio's. The flavors just aren't bold enough. After 3 visits and some average spicy potatoes, goat cheese and paella, I'm ready to pledge my loyalties elsewhere!

    Sorry Iberico, I really wanted to like you.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/24/2008

    Tapas is the name for a wide variety of appetizers in Spanish cuisine. These appetizers can be either served cold, hot or you can even order various versions of paella for a fuller meal. Some girlfriends and I went to Cafe Iberico decided to order quite a few different tapas to share, for dinner. I was so caught up in great conversation that I forgot to take pictures of the first few tapas that came around... but I got a couple (of the main ones which have been added! Here is what we ordered:

    Ensalada Rusa ~ Spanish style potato salad with carrots, tuna and peas.

    Patatas bravas ~Fried potato dices (sometimes part-boiled and then fried, or simply boiled) served with salsa brava, a spicy tomato sauce. Alioli is often served with it too.

    Queso de Cabra ~ Baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce.

    Gambas al Ajillo ~ Grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine.

    Salmon a la Pimienta ~ Fresh grilled salmon with green peppercorn sauce.

    Pincho de Pollo ~ Chicken brochette with caramelized onions and rice.

    It was a really great time hanging out with some of my gals pals and if you haven't had any tapas, I encourage you to try it here at Cafe Iberico! The atmosphere is fun, inviting, laid back... but beware. The place gets busy and packed quickly. If you come with a group, you'll want to make sure everyone arrives because the host/hostess won't seat you until you're all there.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 3.0 star rating
    1/6/2011

    First time I ate here it was a 5.  Great fresh tapas and very good sangria.  The 2nd and last time I went there the wait was crazy, the tapas was clearly pre-made a few hours before and sitting under a heat lamp.  My wife hated it and thus we never went back.  I'm sure I caught it on a bad night but still ruined the restaurant for us.

  • 1.0 star rating
    4/2/2010

    My advice: find a different restaurant.

    Hopefully that caught your eye. Everything here feels and tastes cheap. Do croquettes with an aioli sound good? They're greasy, tasteless, and the sauce might as well be a plain pile of mayonaise. The baked goat cheese tastes like the cheapest, most processed thing this side of American cheese. And all this for around $6.50 a plate.

    The one good thing about this place is that food comes quickly, which means that you can escape faster if you make the mistake of coming here and ordering anything.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/23/2010

    Definitely a good tapas option in Chicago, but it's on the louder side. I also  didn't like their sangria as much as I had wanted to. However, it's always a fun time.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/28/2011

    Went here on a date while I was in college, and I loved their tapas! The place is very busy and loud, which sets off the correct tone for a date, not that type of silence, unmoody kind of ambiance.  

    Their sangria is a must try, though!

  • 1.0 star rating
    7/19/2011
    1 check-in

    No, this place is not cute. I would describe it as the Olive Garden of Spanish restaurants. The ambiance is tacky and I should have know from both the poorly designed website and the horrendous awning.

    The prices are cheap, but then again you pay for what you get. I tried both red and white sangria and the white tasted like water and the red tasted like a capri sun juice box!

    Sipping on the horrible sangria we waited an hour for our table. A wait this long gave me hope that maybe the food was spectacular. I was let down as every plate we ordered was disgusting. Even the paella (that looks really tasty in the pictures online) was mushy, cold, and gross!

    If you are in the mood for Spanish tapas, there are way better places in Chicago to visit.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/7/2010

    Been there for a couple times....
    Two words, great: Tapas and Sangria :)

    friendly environment

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/17/2011

    I absolutely adored this place. In a city of fabulous restaurants this was definitely in my top 5. Whenever I had OOT guests this was a must.

    The atmosphere is wonderful and I never had a bad experience. The grilled shrimp and Spanish potato salad were my faves.

    When I finally make a return visit to Chicago, this place will be on must visit list.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/16/2008

    I love this place! The food is delicious and it's surprisingly affordable for tapas! Get the garlic shrimp, spicy potatoes, mushrooms, mussels (its' so delicious to dip you bread in the sauce), and the white sangria.  I do live close to Ba Ba Reeba but Iberico is definitely a better value and feels a bit more authentic. Also, they always have crazy music videos playing on the TV. Last time I was there I some sort of Euro Pop and the NSYNC bye bye bye video. Good times!

    ooh.  Their bread and olive oil are delicious but don't pig out on it like I normally do or you won't have room for the good stuff...

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/13/2011

    Five of us came here for my birthday dinner since it was so close to my place. They don't take reservations (it was a Friday), but the place was pretty empty because at the time, it was snowy.

    Luckily we were seated right away, tucked away in the far back. Two of my dinner mates decided to split the paella which came in an enormous skillet, and the other three of us ordered several different hot and cold tapas. I remember liking all of our dishes but nothing stood out to me that I had to order the next time I came.

    All in all, a good dinner at very reasonable prices. This wouldn't be the first place that I would go for tapas, but I wouldn't consider it out of the question.

    One thing that did irritate me- there's another version of the restaurant upstairs but has a slightly different menu - I felt like the hostess was trying to get us to go upstairs by shoving that menu in our face. No thanks, I can afford the tapas down here...

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/11/2011

    Pros:
    - Good sized portions
    - Large space
    - Decorative ambiance

    Cons:
    - Too salty
    - No distinctive flavor
    - Slow service

    Conclusion
    - never again.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/11/2010
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    What more to say?  Iberico just rocks.  Awesome food, awesome atmosphere.  It's a Chicago must-visit restaurant.

    Last Saturday I got there at 9pm (you know, Spanish/Latin time) and waited 1.5 hrs - but it was all good (and expected).  Just kicked back and enjoyed some sangria with friends at the bar...  When we sat down, the food came quickly - and so deliciously.  

    Favorite dishes: queso de cabra, pulpo, paellas, mejillones, calamares, patatas bravas... and flan, my favorite dessert!  

    Iberico puts all the other tapas places to shame.  It's cheap too!  And the crowd is neat - in a very midwestern city, it's amazing to see so many Europeans, Latinos, and others at one very trendy spot.  It surely beats the crowd on Rush street haha.  Now all they need is a large bar or salsa club right next door :)

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/10/2010

    They have the best white sangria I have ever had. The food was the ish, or if you're into "Bring it On," "it was the poo...take a whiff."

    Oh I went there, foo.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/20/2010
    10 check-ins

    This is my favorite Tapas Place! I've been to a few around the city, and I always compare each one of them to Cafe Iberico. Their tapas and paellas are close to those you'd find in Spain. I would describe their tapas to be straight to the point. The food is not complicated, not made into a crazy fusion of some sort. Just like how Spanish Tapas should be. I figured some people may not like Iberico because their tapas are not "fancy" and loaded with unnecessary ingredients. But that's the beauty of it all. You get to enjoy the true taste of the dish.

    Definitely worth trying would be Calamares a la Plancha (grilled squid), Gambas al a jillo (grilled shrimp), Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes, better than Cafe Babareeba's!), Paella Iberica, Mejillones a la Marinara (steamed mussles), Champinones a la Plancha (grilled mushrooms), White Sangria, etc.

    Everything is reasonably priced and the portions are just right.

    The only thing that bothers me about this place is that it can get really loud. Which doesn't seem to matter after a few Sangrias! The most quiet spot in this restaurant (if you want to have a decent conversation with people you are dining with) would be the smaller dining hall to the right, close to the walls. I try to request to be seated there if possible.

    If you go on a Friday or Saturday night, be prepared to wait about an hour and a half since they don't take reservations then. So make sure you ate a snack before going and just enjoy a few glasses of Sangria while waiting at the bar. Also, since the paellas take about 30-40 minutes to make, we found it easier to order it while waiting for a table. You just have to pay ahead of time.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/15/2012

    I love Iberico not just for the excellent super tasty food, but also for the loud and lively authentic Spanish atmosphere. My favorite dish is the octopus with french fries; incredible. I have been coming here for years and the food is consistently good. For the record I think this is the better of the two top tapas restaurants in Chicago.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/5/2011

    Hmmm, Iberico and Babareeba running neck and neck pushing towards 900 reviews each, which is fitting as both of these places see more traffic in a month than many restaurants prob see in a year.  The last time I came was during lunch and an altogether different experience, pleasantly so.  

    They do your standard tapas and nothing here is going to surprise you, but that's not necessarily a bad thing....much like a chain restaurant, you know what to expect going in and they usually deliver respectably.  The grilled octopus and jamon iberico are two of my go to's.

    For an alternative and more unique take on tapas, my call would be for Mercat in the Blackstone Hotel whic is outstanding.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/19/2012
    3 check-ins

    Simply put, this is hands down the most authentic tapas in the city. Always bustling and loud, a good place to hang out with a big group...but only plan on hearing the people you sit next too. Great prices for the location, especially on the sangria.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/25/2011

    I loved this place and will definitely be returning.

    My friend, who's a fan of this place, took me here for my first tapas experience. Wow! What fun and what great food! We had Patatas bravas, pulpo a la plancha, champinones a la plancha, croquetas de pollo & paella iberico. The croquetas de pollo & paella were my favorites, but everything was great.

    We got there at around 5 pm on a Friday and there was no wait at all. The place quickly filled up, however, so we were happy we got there when we did. By the time we left the place was packed.

    Our server was great. Charming, funny, flirtatious, but just the right amount of all three.

    My friend had the sangria which looked great, but I wasn't able to partake that night. I'll definitely do so on my next visit.

    Overall, I highly recommend this place. It wasn't very expensive and it was really great food and atmosphere.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/11/2013

    I have tried different Tapas restaurants till date and Cafe Ibrico stands out among them. Food is excellent, Service is good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/22/2011

    Nice spacious restaurant. The seafood salad, sangria  and shrimp in oil are not to be missed. Everything else was also good too. Good place to chill.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/10/2012

    By far the most delicious meal we had in Chicago!  I love tapas restaurants and this did not disappoint.  The scallops were divine!  Reasonable prices and delicious food - you can't get any better than that.  If not for wanting to try a lot of different restaurants in Chicago, we would have eaten there twice.

  • 2.0 star rating
    2/12/2010

    I feel I must clear up a few things from my last review of this address (Pintxos).  I made the statement, "Bottom line ... wait for Cafe Iberico."  I must retract this statement.  

    After heading to Cafe Iberico and settling for Pintxos (a few months back) I walked away feeling jipped.  Jipped from the glorious experience and meal everyone rants about from Cafe Iberico.  I made sure not to make the same mistake again. Now, having been to both and underwhelmed with each experience I can conclude by saying ...  don't wait for either.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/6/2010

    This place doesn't really live up to all the hype.  I ate here a while back, and we were sat in the downstairs area.  While the upstairs has bar, loud music, kind of fun atmosphere, downstairs has bright lighting, and the decor reminds me of a high school cafeteria.  Lot of families downstairs.  The food was ok, not great, not bad.  Next time I would probably request to just eat upstairs.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/30/2010

    I'm turning into a tapas monster. After a rocky start with the cuisine, I've been meaning to try every spot in Chicago with "TAPAS" in the window. A good friend of mine has been raving about Cafe Iberico for years. I never went because I wasn't into tapas. Despite all that back story, I ended up at Cafe Iberico last night for a birthday.

    We made reservations about a week ago, but that did little to have us seated upon arrival. We ended up waiting about 45 minutes to be seated but that was fine because it was a beautiful night and quite frankly, I had nowhere else to be. Finally we were seated and I was stunned by how large the place was! And packed! Looks like the economy may be turning around afterall.

    We started with a pitcher of white sangria. Eh, a little too fruity for me. After downing the pitcher we went with a red sangria next, which is more up my alley. For food, I decided on patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), and the group got their mussels, chicken, and scallops. I can't decide if I was blown away by the food, but I absolutely enjoyed it. The atmosphere was loud and pretty basic for a Spanish restaurant. We say in the lower level so it was cool and dimly lit.  Our server was also very attentive to us all evening, can't complain.

    Overall, I would totally go back. There's a lot more food I have to try, but I just have to stop loading up on the bread and olive oil at the beginning.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/17/2010
    2 check-ins

    TAPAS!           TAPAS!              TAPAS!
    Great place for food and convo with friends!
    I've been coming here for years.

    My faves:

    -PATATAS ALI-OLI.....red potatoes w/ a garlic mayo sauce(must have)

    -PINCHO DE POLLO....grilled chicken skewer with AWESOME caramelized onions and sauce.

    -PULPO A LA PLANCHA....grilled octopus w/ potatoes & olive oil (not rubbery at all)

    -MORE PATATAS ALI-OLI !!!!

    -FILLOA DE HELADO Y CREMA...Stuffed crepe with ice cream topped with whipped cream and strawberry sauce

    -Pitchers of SANGRIA were a great idea. Red or White, your choice.

    The place gets packed at night.---NOTE: ***IF YOU MAY THINK YOU HAVE ACCIDENTALLY STUMBLED INTO A  CLUB WHEN YOU FIRST WALK IN. YOU'RE PROBABLY AT THE RIGHT PLACE.***

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/21/2011

    It can't get any better than this...great drinks, amazing food, and a sense of humor!! Cafe Iberico takes the cake for being incredible on the food front yet delightfully irreverent.

    The sangria was an excellent complement to the meal, I'd definitely recommend it. Food-wise, I came with a large group so we ordered a bunch of dishes, all of which were excellent:

    - Salpicon de marisco, a mixed seafood salad (light and refreshing)

    - Champinones a la plancha, grilled mushrooms (I don't even like mushrooms but I couldn't stop eating these!)

    - Queso de cabra, baked goat cheese with tomato basil sauce (SO GOOD)

    - Gambas al ajillo, grilled shrimp (oily but if you like olive oil, then this is for you)

    - Mejillones a la marinera, steamed mussels with marinara (mmmm tasty)

    - Vieiras con salsa de piquillo, scallops with piquillo pepper sauce (delicious, definitely worth a try)

    - Arroz con zamburinas, paella-style rice with bay scallops (fortunately this entree was placed right in front of me so about a third of it disappeared into my stomach before anyone else got to try it, heh)

    I can't remember all of the 10 dishes we ordered but every single one was flavorful, unique, and satisfying.

    THE BEST PART:

    My awesome friends sneakily told the waiter that we were celebrating me and my sister's birthday. So they brought out a surprise Platano al carmelo, a sauteed banana with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.

    I did a double-take when I saw the banana...could they really have been that oblivious?? The dish was arranged with the two balls of ice cream clustered together near one end of the banana...and the banana was garnished with a little dollop of whipped cream at the opposite end...

    Yeah, it's what you think it is. HAHAHAHA. We had a good laugh about that, then devoured our dessert in about a minute.

    Overall rating: Five stars, all the way!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/19/2011

    I've been going here since 1997 but never "yelped" this place. Must have slipped my mind. I went here on Sunday to entertain a friend from Miami and then again on Monday for another friend's birthday.

    Both times the service was super-fast and the food was delicious. I ordered the same dishes I always order: patatas ali-oli (potatoes in a garlic mayo sauce), patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), croquetas de pollo (chicken croquettes), pulpo a la plancha (grilled octopus), paella, a pitcher of white sangria and a pitcher of red sangria.

    I will admit, there have been a few times that the service has been slow but when you keep in mind that Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest days, on tends to be more patient than usual.

    When I compare Cafe Iberico's tapas to Arco de Cuchillos, Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba!, La Taberna, and 1492 I would say that Cafe Iberico's are my favorite. Hence the reason I have been going there since 1997.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/24/2010

    My husband and I came here to celebrate his newly acquired Spanish citizenship on a recent trip to Chicago.  We came during lunch time and enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant, colorful and lively.  We could only imagine what a blast it must have been to have watched the recent World Cup here.  

    The food was a solid "good".  The sauces on my patatas bravas and shrimp dish were simply delish!  However the patatas were soggy (yuck!) and the shrimp was a bit overcooked and had a rubbery texture.  We enjoyed the beef entree we ordered; it was tender and very flavorful.  

    I'm not a drinker but my husband said the sangria left a little to be desired.  He said it was dry and the fruit was not fresh.

    If I was in the area I would probably come here again.

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/28/2012

    Honestly, after dinner when my friend asked me how I liked this place, the only reply I could really come up with was: "meh" ...which is a rarity in my vernacular. This place is just okay. It wasn't horrible, but I've definitely had much better tapas before. Maybe it was going to Spain and having real tapas that spoiled me, but none of the dishes really wowed me. The sangria was alright, the server was mostly on top of his game (although a bit disconnected and rushed most of the time), and the noise level wasn't too bad. The only thing I would really have to throw a fit about is that they only have Manchego on one of the tapas. ONE! What kind of Spanish tapas joint doesn't have Manchego on practically every dish!? They didn't even have a cheese plate or anything! The whole place could use some more creative dishes and a slight attitude adjustment.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/12/2011

    This place is perfect if you don't want to wait and don't mind eating in a high school cafeteria-esque atmosphere. Delicious food and generous portions for a really good value. They have a VERY extensive menu. Definitely order the Ternera Asada and Queso de Cabra, and choose a few items off the weekly specials.

    -1 star because the Sangria was only so-so.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/11/2011
    7 check-ins

    I went here one random night and have been back almost every weekend. Huge place with delicious tapas and even better delicious sangria, preferably white sangria. Doesn't take long to get seated and while you can wait you can wait at the bar on the main level or upstairs. Staff is very friendly and check on the table often. I have not been disappointed yet.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/30/2011

    Hadn't been here for years, but the food is as consistent as when my husband & I were dating in the early 90's. Back then though it was just a tiny bar with Spaniards dancing around you. I really miss that ambiance, and authenticity. Now it's just house music and big screen tv's.

    Still, the food is great, they have a reasonably priced wine list and the service superb.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/26/2012

    Went with a bunch of Europeans and they liked it too. So with their stamp of approval, I think this place is pretty legit.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/25/2012

    I love tapas! We ordered several dishes, some were more memorable than others. The garlic shrimp were PHENOMENAL. The chicken with carmelized onions and spanish rice were also quite tasty. I wanted dessert, but there weren't many options. They are reasonably priced and the service was good. I'll go back.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/2/2010
    1 check-in

    I'm a big fan of tapas bar so I had high expectation for Cafe Iberico. Well it met my expectation. All the tapas we ordered were excellent. Let's see...

    Steamed mussels with marinara sauce was tasty.
    Baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce was yummy.
    Small clams sauteed with shallots, white wine and parsley was delicious
    Toasted bread topped with eggplant, peppers,  zucchini tomato and olive oil was awesome.
    Sangria was refreshing.
    You get the idea.

    The place got crowded quickly for dinner so show up early if you don't want to sit at the bars. Ideal place to bring big group and order different tapas to share. The staff and service could be improved. Overall, a great experience that would bring me and my wallet back again.

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/19/2012 Updated review

    DONT GO TOO LATE. We went here recently at 11pm. The dining area was closed so we had to sit in the bar section..they were playing weird Spanish and pop music videos on the screens with horrible techno music over. We had walked pretty far so decided to stay. Don't know if the atmosphere is really that important but the food sadly was not as amazing as I remembered. It took forever and yet didn't taste fresh. Still cheap though but I'm not sure I'll go back.

    5.0 star rating
    6/18/2010 Previous review
    Probably one of my favorite experiences dining out. Very affordable Awesome atmosphere large wine… Read more
  • 3.0 star rating
    8/27/2013

    Food was very good, but the ambiance was very close to a Denny's.  Tables are close together and very loud.  Nothing romantic is going to happen here!  Wait service was attentive, Hostess acted like my teenage daughter, annoyed that I asked for a table for 2 and she'd have to stop texting.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/1/2010
    1 check-in

    How can anyone not like Iberico! So much to choose from and Try. I love Tapas. My favorite is the Potatas bravas and the Paella. Oh yes and the Sangria is yummy too. White or red to please the wierdo's who only drink white wine. Be prepared for a 1-2 hour wait I don't think they take reservations. Please go and enjoy!!

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/25/2011
    Listed in Chicago

    If we didn't have to wait an hour and a half for a table for four I would have given Cafe Iberico one more star.  As I learned this weekend, this place gets ridiculously crowded on Saturday nights.  Even the bar is jam packed and you have to wait forever to get a drink.  

    Once you are seated the food and drinks come pretty fast.  Prices are very decent.  With two pitchers of sangria and 6 or 7 tapas places we still paid less than $30 a person.  Not bad.  I will probably come back when people from LA come to visit me.  But this this I will definitely make reservations ahead of time.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/2/2010

    I have been coming here for years and it is always a great time.  Fun vibe, always crowded, always loud and always yummy.  This was my first visit in awhile and the Tuesday night crowd was hopping.  They cram you in but it's a jovial atmosphere and the service is quick and friendly.  

    We shared the mussels, shrimp in olive oil and garlic, spinach/goat cheese crepes, artichokes, Spanish ham with cheese and brushetta and the tuna salad.  I loved everything except the tuna salad which was ridiculously bland.  The ham with cheese and brushetta was probalby my favorite, or was it the shrimp.

    For desert we had these little muffins with ice cream and the plantain with ice cream.  The plantain was my favorite and I could have eaten two.

    The sangria pitcher was yummy though I could have used a bit more fruit and perhaps a bit more alcohol.  The nectarines were a little green and bitter when I scooped them up from the bottom of my empty glass.  Apples would have worked for this beautiful fall night.

    Still all and all a very fun place to go even on a week night with a decent amount of street parking to be found as well.  And that is always a good thing.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/9/2011

    My mother-in-law and I really enjoyed this place. We had been running around Chicago for 2 full days and needed some stick to your ribs food.

    It is a small and busy place. It seemed like they attracted a healthy traffic of locals along with the regular tourists.

    The service was somewhat slow but we didn't mind because our legs and feet were smokin' and they needed some rest.

    The sangria was exceptional. I had the white but the red looked just as tasty.

    Our 1st  tapas was potatoes with sausage in a bold red sauce. We devoured it! The second tapas dish was a pesto bruschetta with baked goat cheese. I won't even tell you how good that was. Try it out for yourself.

    Our main course was a seafood paella. The rice in the dish was really good. We probably should have gone vegetarian on this. We like seafood but I think as a 3rd dish it was a bit much.

    Our bellies were so stuffed so we sadly had to decline dessert. We still had to walk back to our hotel which was about 1 mile away.

    I would definitely suggest this quaint little place. I would go back again for sure.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    4/12/2011

    I have daydreams about the mussels dish. Everything else is phenomenal, but the mussels are 6 stars. I cannot live on mussels alone (maybe I could?) so we also ate papas fritas, grilled calamari, the Iberico paella, the jamon iberico with tomato toast, the goat cheese dip, and the mushrooms. But its those mussels I dream of. I want to eat that sauce they use like a soup.

    Wine list is great for Spanish wines, and a great bottle can be had for around $20. Only downside is that the upstairs dining room is very loud, but its much quieter and romantic downstairs. The TVs are usually pumping out fun Spanish-language music videos, and every now and then they'll throw in a random 80's or 90's pop song. We left full, happy, and dancing to C&C Music Factory. I love Cafe Iberico.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/4/2011
    3 check-ins

    I've spent 4 memorable months in Spain and this place takes me back every single time.  The atmosphere is authentic, the staff friendly and the tapas are excellent.  This is my favorite Spanish restaurant in the city.  If you go, avoid the south dining room and sit in the north side of the restaurant.  It has a more openess to it and is less noisy than the boxed in south room.  
    My favorite dishes are the Gambas al ajillo and jamon iberico.  Outstanding.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/6/2012

    The first time I went there the food was ok, but I just went again last night with a friend from Spain and the food was phenomenal. I think it was because I didn't know what dishes to order last time. This time we had:

    CROQUETAS DE POLLO (you have to try this, amazing)

    PATATAS BRAVAS

    CHORIZO Y MORCILLA (try the blood sausages)

    sauteed chicken liver with onions (can't find the name on the menu)

    pork shoulder dish where the skin is slightly crispy and the fat just melts in your mouth. it was not overly oily and done just perfectly. (can't find the name)

    drink: Sangria roja

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/13/2010

    I've been to this restaurant a total of 3 times, and I'm sure there will be many more times to come. The ambiance of this place is just awesome. The main seating area is this large crowded room, loud as hell, NO CHILDREN (or at least you can't hear them), and sangria everywhere! Red and white I may add.

    It's pretty rough trying to get in here on a Saturday. Don't bother making a reservation because they don't accept them on Fridays and Saturdays. Some of my favorite tapas:

    - Mussels
    - Patatas Bravas
    - The chicken, rice, and some kind of sour scream sauce.
    - WHITE sangria.
    - Skirt streak

    You name it! This place has an abundance of tapas to choose from. The service is always fast and nothing less than superb.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/12/2010

    I've lived in Chicago 3.5 years now and I have frequented Cafe Iberico more than any other eating establishment.
    My initial reaction to this place was WOW; good, interesting food, reasonable prices. Those are all still mostly true in my
    book but I have to knock it down a star or two. The place, especially on a weekend is incredibly LOUD. So loud that if you're
    on a first date and don't want to listen to what he/she is saying, perfect place, because you can't hear a thing. It seems like
    the portions have shrunk a little bit too - not positive on that but it sure seemed like it. Check it out on an off-night.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/1/2010

    Well, I went Mexican on Friday night, and Spanish-Tapas on Saturday.  Come Sunday I was so feeling so much Brown love I threw American Me on the Blu ray and watched it for my 800th time.  But for the purposes of this Review, I will focus on the Saturday portion of this Espanol Weekend Sandwich.

    Tonight brought us to Cafe Iberico.  Talent was off the charts. I'd estimate over the 4 hour span we were in attendance, there were 300 different patrons I saw coming and going or eating amongst us.  I'd estimate 206 of them were women of all ages, 94 were guys. How's that for numbers fellas?

    The Cougars stole the night as they had a stranglehold on the bar and couldn't have been friendlier.  How did this place become Grand Central station for groups of women who have decided to have a "Ladies night out!"?  Was there a memo that went out that somehow didn't make it in my slot?  

    Whatever the case, if you haven't been here, make it a point to go.  The people watching is amongst the best, and I am still thinking of the food 48 hours later. I had company in town over the weekend, and a group of us, three guys and lady friend dived head first into the following:

    -spicy potatoes in tomato sauce
    -grilled mushrooms in garlic and olive oil
    -goat cheese with thinly sliced meat in tomato and basil sauce
    -grilled squid and shrimp in olive oil
    -Croquetos de Pollo with dipping sauce which are MUST get
    -Marinated Pork
    -Chorizo and Mocilla meat platter

    Amongst others fine dishes I can't speak to when things got cloudier in the latter part of the evening, it was all washed down with a perfectly mixed pitchers of sangria.

    Come with a group or as a couple for a festive evening full of your favorite Spanish cuisine.  I promise you'll come back for countless visits.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/24/2010

    Another family favorite, and this I am not kidding.  Whenever our Cali cousins come in, they want two things.  Lou Malnati's and Cafe Iberico.  Done deal.  At point, we came here twice in one week

    Yes, there may be a long wait at Iberico's, but it's well worth it.  We usually go with  a party of 8-12, and we order food galore.  

    Favorites:
    camarones gambia- awesome garlic shrimp that is delicious.  Order 2!
    patatas bravas- spicy, but tolerable chunky potatoes served with a tomatoe sauce.  Order 2!
    tortilla espanol- an egg omelet with chunks of onion and potatoe, served cold.  Everyone at your table will want their own.  Order one per person lol
    paella- this seafood paella is a hit here.  Served in its paella dish, it's steaming hot upon table arrival.  Make sure you order it as the waiter serves you your waiter, as this takes about 30 minutes cook time.  No worries.  You wait to eat this last while you eat above items

    Love their sangria, love their capirinhas, love their ambience and weight staf..

    Open very late, and is a nice atmosphere on the weekends to grab a bite or drink after group events.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/2/2012

    By far the best tapas in Chicago.  If you've ever been to Spain, this is the most authentic tapas restaurant that I've been to in the US.  Not only does the decor take you to a Spanish restaurant, but the food is identical to that you would find in a Spanish tapas restaurant.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/2/2011

    Sangria, Sangria, Sangria

    Everytime I go there I'm never disappointed. The food is great, the service I get is great also. I like going there from time to time and being able to get good food, have a few drinks, and just relax. The price are very reasonable to say the least for a downtown restaurant. I personally like it, but that just my opinion. Everyone will say its either good or bad, but honestly unless you try it, you'll just never know the experience of Cafe Iberico

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/11/2011

    Came here for a birthday party and another time.  The birthday party was on that step up by the glass food displays.  Kind of like you are eating in the middle of a deli, but it was alright with me.

    My friend says he bring his first date here everytime.  So if someone asks you to come here on a first date, maybe he figured the glass of sangria would be flowing in his favor.

  • 1.0 star rating
    1/24/2012

    Brown salad, waitress with brown hair/glasses was inattentive and rude. Extremely small serving of cheap mexican food. Bad experience.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/17/2010

    Love love this place! I try to come here every time I'm in Chicago. This is a great place to meet up with your friends, have a couple pitchers of sangria and enjoy little plates of food.

    { WHAT TO ORDER }
    ** Pitcher of red sangria (so, so good!!)
    ** Paella Iberica (takes 30-40 minutes to cook) - it is so delicious here! not too wet, prepared perfectly!
    ** Flan de Caramelo (be prepared. it's really sweet but oh so yum!)
    * Croquetas de Pollo (chicken + ham pufs)
    * Almejas en Salsa Verde (clams in white wine) - dip bread in the wine sauce!
    * Margaritas/daiquiris?...it's actually good here and comes in huge glasses!

    Everything else is just okay.

    { ENVIRONMENT }
    * Great ambiance, great for large parties

    { TIP }
    * This place can get crazy pack. So arrive early. Allot some time for the paella! You won't be disappointed.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/16/2010

    Iberico is a tapas place.  That means it's small plates of food you pass around and share.  

    What Iberico is really about though is the experience, the atmosphere and the ambiance.  It's packed, loud and festive.  You'll have trouble hearing someone who is across the table or two or more people away from you.  The solution to that problem is to drink more sangria.  

    The food here isn't my cup of tea.  A few things like the chicken skewer, tenderloin skewer and goat cheese were okay.  I ended up nibbling a little here and there.  Someone asked me if I was going to get Portillo's later.  I didn't but did have a midnight snack later on just the same.  For what it's worth, a Spaniard here visiting thought this place was great and ate here three or four times in the two weeks he visited.  

    What Iberico is really about to me is the sangria, the company and the festive people all around you.  It is heavily skewed towards groups of young women, for whatever reason, which certainly isn't a bad thing.  

    I'd recommend going in a party of three or more for sangria, the party atmosphere and a little snacking.

  • 1.0 star rating
    3/31/2012
    1 check-in

    Ahhh, fellow yelpers... You have led me astray!!!  I had high hopes based on the reviews here, but the food was terrible!  My food was flavorless and my date's was too salty to eat. Over priced, poor quality food.  So many better options nearby.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/15/2010

    This place is amazinggggg, I've been here a handful of times and have now perfected the ideal menu. Let's start backwards shall we?

    Dessert:
    PLATANO AL CARAMELO - fried banana drizzled in light sweet caramel sauce served with a creamy vanilla ice cream... YUM!
    FILLOA DE HELADO Y CREMA - crepe stuffed with the same creamy vanilla ice cream topped with whipped cream and a tangy/sweet strawberry sauce

    Entrees:
    POLLO A LA BRASA - juicy and seasoned-to-perfection half roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and flavorful vegetables.

    Tapas: HOT
    PATATAS BRAVAS - your visit here is NOT complete without ordering these spicy potatoes
    PINCHO DE POLLO - juicy morsels of chicken brochette-style with caramelized onions and rice
    Tapas: COLD
    TOSTADAS DE PISTO - crunchy toasted bread topped with eggplant, peppers, onion, Zucchini tomato and olive oil...delish!
    SALPICON DE MARISCO - warning this could be a hit or miss, it's a mix of seafood salad with shrimp, octopus, and squid --I've ordered it before where it's tasted fresh, and other times where it's been too fishy

    Those are just a few of the highlights... I encourage you to go in and craft your own ideal menu, the dishes are inexpensive and small enough to spend an entire afternoon :) Oh, and the sangria is a must!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/12/2010

    This is my go-to place for tapas.  The food is fresh, the menu is big and the prices are VERY reasonable.  I really like the atmosphere, it's busy and high energy and a good place to go get a light meal before a night of partying.  Once it passes a certain hour (perhaps 9 p.m.) the TVs play Spanish music videos which really adds to the mood - it makes it feel clubby and fun.  

    The gambas (shrimp) are amazing, the spicy potatoes are good, and the canelon de atun (creamy tuna stuffed in a pasta shell, kinda looks like a crepe) is not to be  missed.  Be sure to check out their specials menu because they usually have some pretty awesome offerings.  

    I can't give them the full five stars because they DO NOT take reservations on Friday and Saturday nights - it's super annoying, esp if you want to go with a group, bc you can wait a really long time for a table.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/12/2010

    Had dinner here a few weeks ago with a bunch of old friends. This was my first time eating Tapas in urban Chicago so I was curious both about the quality and price. I was greeted by a generous pitcher of Sangria and we promptly ordered. The mushrooms were delicious, as were nearly every dish we ordered here- I was very impressed.

    The atmosphere is a bit noisy but not so much as to prevent conversation altogether. Just don't expect to be able to speak to friends at the other end of a long table! The service was also hit or miss- no one greeted me or helped me find my table, and the waiter was very sporadic in when he would show up to take an order or clear the table a bit, both pretty important details in a tapas restaurant.

    All in all great food, but the service is a bit lacking.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/20/2008

    we are so glad they banned smoking in restaurants. We have going here for over 10 years now and our only complaint was the smoke. This place becomes a true United Nations, i think every nationality is represented here at times, it gets loud and happening.

    Have some tapas, and don't pass the sangria... it is not the greatest but after 2 pitchers ... who cares, everyone's happy.

    Patatas Bravas forever and Gambas al ajillo Galore just for starters, after that everything is good.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/6/2010

    This place has the BEST Sangria ever! After drinking the Sangria here, it is hard to find a match.

    Cafe Iberico is a popular tapas restaurant. It gets super crowded during the weekend. They don't take reservations! I once waited 2 hours here for a table! The good thing is that you can wait downstairs in the bar area. Getting buzz off the sangria while you wait definitely makes the time goes by so fast!

    Overall, this is a super fun restaurant to go to when you have a large party. The tapas are really good and the sangria is fantastic!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/10/2010
    1 check-in

    Cafe Iberico has never let me down. Always packed, even on a weekday. Sorry, but you don't get a perfect 5 because you stopped serving bacon wrapped dates the last 3 times I was there! If you have it next time I'm there, I will change my rating to 5 stars!

    Love the atmosphere. Great prices. Their sangria is yummy. Reservations accepted. Parking is not too difficult. Helpful servers.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/16/2011

    Yes, sometimes you have to wait a long time to be seated but it's worth it!
    The tapas are delicious, the wine and beer are cheap and the crowd is loud and fun. Highly recommended!

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/12/2011

    Ambiance:  This place is AMAZING!  Despite the overcrowd that you will experience when you walk in because it's always packed, the place has nice lighting, and welcoming feeling.  Due of popular demand, it has become a little tight and you may feel that you're close to your neighbors.  

    The GOOD: Food, drinks, service, EVERYTHING! No wonder this place is overcrowded!! The prices are definitely affordable, and they come rather quick.  Deifnitely try their Queso de Cabra - it's goat cheese with tomato basil sauce served with their freshly toasted Garlic bread. Patatas Bravas - for the potato lovers servced with tomato sauce with a kick!  And of course, one of their Paella's - my favorite is their  Paella Iberica -  pretty much their whole sha-bang!  Let the waiter know ahead of time that you want to try it because it takes about 30-40 minutes to make. Their Pincho DeSolomillo is good to try as well - beef tenderloin skewer with caramelized onion... and who doesn't like caramelized onion??  I  love their Sangria - both red and white!  Trust me, you can't go wrong with this place, even if it's your first time having Tapas.

    The BAD:  I can't write anything bad about this place... but if there's any warning I can give, it's always crowded so prepare to wait and it's getting really tight between tables that you can hear the next table's latest gossip.  If you have reservations, there's a little wait but it's nice because their bar is ready for you. =)

    The BOTTOM LINE:  This place is DEFINITELY worth trying! Their food, drinks and service are great, as long as you're prepared to wait.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/21/2011

    Being fully aware of café Iberico's reputation for being super packed and busy at night, my girlfriend and I went there for lunch one Saturday. I can honestly say for one of the first times that The Restaurant Vigilante can find no faults in this place.

    I am not a wine person, but the white Sangria was quite nice. We ordered a cold cut plate which was fantastic, a squid dish that was amazing, potates bravas which were pretty good (though I prefer bravas sauces at other establishments) - we also had an octopus dish that was utterly amazing. We ordered a few other items too and had a nice, relaxed, euro-style lunch that lasted more than 2 hours. The service was great (though there weren't many people there). The prices were reasonable, especially for such a nice place.

    I also like that they have a little deli and store where they sell hard to find, authentic stuff...meats, special coffee and a ton of other stuff...that was really neat! The atmosphere also is very enjoyable. I highly recommend!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/3/2009

    This was one of my favorite Spanish Tapas place in Chicago.  For about 7 years, I would stop in there after work in the Loop for happy hours, gathering with friends and weekend brunches.  It's not a fancy place, but it's always festive and sometime it's almost like a big party in there.

    The place is huge and there's even a basement with more seating.  Food is solid, but the food and the decor are nothing fancy and more on the simple, rustic side.

    One item we always get is the grilled octopus with fries.  It's lightly seasoned, but it's very tender, almost just melts in your mouth.  The baked goat cheese in tomato sauce is also outstanding and goes well with bread.  Other items that standout are the mixed seafood salad which is light and refreshing and the beef skewers with caramelized onions.  The onions are so sweet and and the Mayo based sauce goes well with the beef and onions.  All the other items are good, but not outstanding.

    For the most part, it offers a rustic, country Spanish cuisine that's fairly simple in flavoring and preparation (olive oil, tomato sauce, salt and pepper and occasionally saffron), but it's fairly tasty and reliable.  It's a great place for a couple of sangrias and a few plates of Tapas.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/30/2010

    I've been here a handful of times, both midweek and on the weekends, early evening and late.  Each time, there has been a big crowd.  Normally, I don't like crowded, packed in places, but for some reason, I always felt good here. it seemed like an organized chaos with pitchers of tasty sangria flowing about.

    I can't recall what I had to eat each time, but it was all good and the price is just right.  I love their olive oil, the meats were all so tender, juicy, and flavorful.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/10/2010

    Great tapas, lively atmosphere, and not as expensive as one would think given the area. Ordered about 8 different tapas dishes with a group of  6 friends and everybody was pleased. Portions were just enough for everybody to have several bites of each, which was perfect. The sangria was also quite tasty and the service was pretty quick considering how crowded the place was.

    Would definitely recommend going, but beware they do not take reservations on Friday and Sat nights for dinner, so be prepared to wait a bit if you come with a large group ... although time can pass rather quickly since the waiting area is strategically placed near the bar.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/7/2013

    Like the food there, Paello /Veggie Omelette / Empanada are all quite nice!

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/24/2008

    I eat tapas A LOT.  I've been to most of the places the city has to offer and this last visit to Iberico was completely disappointing... I wanted so badly to love my dinner, especially since I brought an out of town but while the food was fine - the rest of the experience was bad.  I've easily been here at least 6 times, if not 10.

    -1 star: Valet - The valet guy rummaged through my glove box. NOT COOL.

    -1 star: Basement seating area smelled like it had been flooded (and was mildewy)or cleaned with dirty mop water. It took 15 mins to get used to the smell.

    -1 star: Mediocre to poor bread. Honestly - I can make better bread.

    + star: Always reliable, good, cheap sangria.

    Service was fine. Dishes were reliable.  If you like Spanish tapas - take your $'s to Ba Ba Reeba or Bull-eh-dia's instead.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/8/2011

    I've never had a bad experience at Cafe Iberico.... tasty sangria and tapas, 'nuff said.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/16/2012

    I spent a semester studying in Sevilla and fell in love with the Spanish culture. The food here is pretty authentic ( although their patatas bravas were a little disappointing), and I enjoyed myself. However, I was expecting a more authentic atmosphere. They played outdated American music and I was hoping to hear some flamenco or Spanish music. I would go back because the food and service was good, however it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/2/2010

    I've had tapas before in California and wanted to try it out in Chicago.  I didn't taste a difference and wasn't too impressed with this place, although it wasn't bad.  I tried the patatas bravas and a few of their specialty dishes.  One of them had steak in it and it contained a good amount of fat which I had to take out.

    We went around 3 PM so there was no one inside so service was great.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/13/2010

    Mmmmm...tapas. It's fitting that my 50th review is of a place that I've been to probably 50 times. I enjoy taking out of towners to Cafe Iberico to get an authentic taste of Spanish tapas. It's a nice change of pace in River North from the traditional tourist pizza joints and steakhouses.

    My favorites on the menu: Seafood paella, goat cheese in tomato sauce, patatas bravas (a little spicy), and grilled calamari. Don't forget to order a pitcher of sangria. For beer fans, I recommend San Miguel-- it's honestly a great beer that isn't served in many Chicago restaurants, and I'm paying tribute to the beverage of the Philippines. Next time I go, I'll order a bottle and toast to my 50th Yelp review.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/4/2011

    One of my favorite tapas place.

    It's not very expensive, sangria's are very nice, and food is amazing.  i would highly recommend this place if you happen to be in the area.  

    The reason for my 3 star rating: for some reason one of my favorite dish CHAMPIÑONES A LA PLANCHA which is Grilled mushrooms with garlic and olive oil was a bit disappointing this week.  They normally use small baby mushrooms; and this is the first time they appeared to be cut from a different kid of mushrooms.  It was not the same taste!  Sauce was  thick, I was just not very happy with the way they prepared it.  I also ordered PULPO A LA PLANCHA which is Grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil and it seemed a little over cooked.  The quality and the consistence was not there, but i'm hopeful they will improve.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/30/2012

    Great portions and flavors for the small price.

    Cons:
    The menu is a bit overwhelming, and the waitress acted like it was a nuisance to serve us.

    Pros:
    Phenomenal food for the price, and cheap pitchers of sangria.

    I had the Paella Marinera -- it was pretty good, but I don't think I'd recommend it. It could use a little more kick to it.

    However, my boyfriend had the Pollo a La Brasa, which was seriously the best chicken I've ever had in my life. I made fun of him for ordering chicken, and I really am not a big chicken fan. I was wrong -- it was outstanding. The chicken was so moist and soaked in delicious juices. The mashed potatoes were delicious and had a unique taste to them. Also, it was huge for the price. It was enough for several people.

    The Platano al Caramelo for dessert was delicious and cheap.

    Tip: Order the Pollo a La Brasa.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/2/2010

    One of my faves in the city.  Very traditional.  

    The wait:  on a weekend... very busy.  But now they've opened up the top floor and have your name flashing efficiently on the big screens... it's become shorter than the 2 hour wait.  But I don't mind waiting, especially if you can sit at the bar, people watch, and sip pitchers of sangria.

    The peeps:  anyone and everyone.  

    The atmosphere:  so lively and energetic.  Dark wood, big screen tvs with spanish television on, spanish music blaring, loud crowds.  LOVE it

    The food: AMAZING.  To me... it's very traditional Spanish.  Like sitting in Plaza mayor in Madrid, watching the fire dancers, being served by Antonio, people watching and journal writing.  Drinking red wine and eating spanish olives.   ugh... brings back memories.

    My faves:
    -Pulpo a la plancha: grilled octopus with fries.  Simply seasoned.  Grilled.  Tender, not rubbery.  Some peeps get creeped out by the suction cups.  Just close your eyes.
    -The Queso de Cabra: creamy smooth goat cheese in tomato sauce with toasted bread... drool
    -Pincho de solomillo: beef skewer.  Kinda chewy.
    -Salads, paella, croquettes, torta... all sooooo good
    -I always try to get something on the specials menu... all delicious and good variety.
    -I recently tried the empanada.  Not the small little meat pies that I'm used to.  But a huge meat pie that can feed several peeps. We ordered 2, chicken and scallops.  And we 1st thought, "how expensive."  But they came out HUGE and can easily feed 5 peeps, even though it said 2 or 3.  We had lots of left overs.  It was delicious.  More wet than the varieties I'm used to.

    Overall.... a great place to start the night off.  Except that if you go to a club afterwards, then you'll likely smell like food.    But the sangria is delicious and very cheap.  And doesn't give me a headache that other restaurant varieties do.

    Several of my friends had a birthday party there... and the bill came out to less than 20$ a person.  Soooo reasonable and so filling.  It was a great place to just hang out, talk, people watch, and eat.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/21/2010

    I'm totally smacking myself for not coming here sooner!  What a wonderful Tapas spot, WAY better than Ole Ole in Andersonville and much cheaper too.  The baked goat cheese and smoked salmon with dill sauce are worth a second trip.  Attentive staff and strong sangrias topped off a wonderful night with great friends both new and old.

    Cafe Iberico....I'll be back.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/28/2009

    Although it was Saturday night, we didn't have to wait too long for a table. The waiting area was filled with flat screens bumping music videos and the crowd by the bar was well dressed, good looking, and friendly. We hung out at the bar and sipped some delicious sangria until our table was ready. Maybe guzzled instead of sipped.  When your table is ready your name scrolls along the bottom of the television. I don't know if it forces you to watch the music videos but I preferred it to those obnoxious pagers that never seem to work quite right.

    The restaurant was packed and lively. There were a mix of families, bachelorette parties, and couples. Our food came pretty quickly but the fresh bread and olive oil kept us happy. Listen to the 600 other reviewers and get the queso de cabra. The goat cheese is smooth, creamy and pairs with that sassy tomato sauce. Yes, sassy. Even my sister in law who does not like goat cheese liked it. We also didn't tell her it was goat cheese.  If it were socially acceptable, I would have licked the bowl clean. The patatas bravas were also delicious and come with a simple, smokey sauce. The grilled shrimp and mushrooms were also tasty. No dessert but our meal was so affordable I was little upset that my tummy had no more room.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/19/2009

    Bubble Gum.

    This is what my coworker Andrea found on her plate as she was digging into her lunchtime tapas selection, which incidentally arrived about 20 minutes after the rest of the selections of our party of 8 did.

    The victim: chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese.

    *sigh*

    So sad. A ravenous appetite instantaneously turned to disgust.

    Andrea lifted her fork and shared her specimen with the class, which she explained she had thought was cheese. Luckily she had smelled an unmistakable bubblicious odor before biting into it. Obviously we were grossed out and Andrea was done.

    Now, horrified as we were,  we're a sweet bunch (shucks we work at a non profit) and take things in stride. Yes this was unacceptable. (Really? Your line chefs chew gum while preparing food?).  But, mistakes happen. Further we were having lunch out (a rarity for us) to say goodbye to a friend of ours and didn't have  much time to spare. We were wrapping up and really, we wanted to move past this faux pas.

    Problem was, we couldn't get our server's attention, despite all 8 of our heads searching. Dum dee dum dee dum.  10 minutes elapse....

    Now this is after we had *already* been trying to get our server's attention for about 10 minutes (prior to bubble gum incident) since she had neglected to bring a salad we had ordered.

    Finally, server appears, Andrea politely shows her the wad-o-bubble yum on her plate. Server asks if she would like a new entree and Andrea says no (no appetite for it now, and we have to get going), but whatever she could do to reduce the bill would be appreciated.

    A few minutes later the manager (?) comes to our table. "Suprising!" she says, when Andrea shows her the gum.

    Ummm, yeah.

    Then, as an afterthought, "I'm so sorry. Can I get you a new one?" No Andrea repeats, we have to go but whatever you can do to adjust the bill is appreciated.

    "Would you like another entree?"

    Nope, no time.

    "Perhaps a chocolate tequila?", the manager continues, obviously distressed.

    No, that's ok Andrea says.

    My other friend mentions to the manager that  she never got the Ensalada Mixta she ordered (40 minutes ago). "Oh do you want it now" she asks, apologetically, but with no indication that it would be brought either quickly or gratis.  Faced with the prospect of waiting for who knows how long, we said no thanks, just make sure it's not on the bill.

    So, we're anxiously waiting for the check, and a few minutes later we see our server....starting to pour us sangrias.

    Ummm, appreciate the thought, but as we have tried to make it eminently clear, not to mention it's 2:00 pm on a Wednesday, we don't have time to linger! Can we just have THE BILL?

    About 7 minutes later (but who's counting) we get the bill. The chicken entree is taken off.

    Ok, fine.  We expected more (a few entrees comped?, something to take home?). The manager comes over and redundantly explains that the chicken entree was taken off. Then she sheepishly tells Andrea that if she *wants* she can take something else off the bill. Andrea doesn't really know what to say and  tells her to take off whatever she thinks is right.

    Manager disappears back up front, we're gathering our money (tip automatically added), and then as we're about to settle, the manager gives us a new bill. "We took off the Jamon Iberico" she exclaims..

    Grrrrrreat.

    We retract our 7 dollars or so, and hit the friggin' road!

    Now, I've been to Iberico many times before. I enjoy many of the menu items such as the grilled octopus, shrimp with garlic, and goat cheese. I haven't had major problems before.  And shucks, I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Which is why I'm giving them 2 stars.

    But really, the front of house needs a refresher course on how to take a care of a problem efficiently.

    Aye carumba!

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/3/2009

    Came here last night since my date suggested I try it.  Last weekend we went to Cafe Babareeba, so this time I figured we'd try this place out.  She said they had great Sangria and good food.  Well let me say, the Sangria was pretty good....strong!  The food was spicey, and it was ok.  For some reason we were seated in the "dungeon" on a Friday night......had bad service and it was just too loud in the basement!

    Overall, it was ok.  I like Cafe Babareeba better......better food portions and selections and just a better time.  They do not take reservations which is stupid, so be prepared on a weekend to wait........

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/5/2010

    I remember better days at this restaurant in the late 1990s.  But things have changed.  

    Fried-rice dishes -- the restaurant insists on calling them paellas -- are to be avoided. Servings of morcilla y chorizo that feature reheated left-overs better be returned to the kitchen -- it helps if you show the waiter the photos of the dish in the menu.  

    The goat cheese and tomato sauce tapa is good when done right, but more often than not it's served either under-heated or overheated.  Russian salad better left to the Russians.

    The restaurant has a vibrand atmosphere that can be extremely noisy at times.  The prices are decent, valet parking is reasonable (by Chicago standards; $10), and the service is generally good.

    Worth a visit once a year perhaps.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • Start your review of Café Iberico.

    Rating
    • Eek! Methinks not.
    • Meh. I've experienced better.
    • A-OK.
    • Yay! I'm a fan.
    • Woohoo! As good as it gets!

    Select your rating.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/22/2012

    I just came back from a week long trip from Chicago...our friend who we stayed with said we MUST try this Spanish tapas place, and I could tell why!

    To drink we had the classic red sangria...delicious!! To eat we had: ensalada rusa, calamares a la plancha, gambas al ajillo, and pincho de solomillo.

    The pincho de solomillo was my favorite, amazing beef, delicious caramelized onions, and fries....couldn't get enough!!

    Lastly...the dessert...OMG...the dessert, heavenly. We had arroz con leche, bizcocho borracho, and platano al caramelo.

    I was very skeptical about the platano al caramelo, sauteed banana with caramel? But oh my god, it was the best out of all three desserts (even though they were all great).

    When I come back to Chicago, I am DEFINITELY coming back here.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/22/2010
    1 check-in

    Café Iberico is a great Tapas place! The food is delicious, and although their presentaion (how it looks) is fair, it is very reasonably priced. Great place for a casual date.

    Love the environment!

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/22/2010

    Best vegetarian tapas ever.
    Good sangria and desert options as well. Must try Tiramisu.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/21/2012

    This use to be my FAVORITE restaurant. The atmosphere was great, food fairly priced and yummy, and just simply worth the wait. I go in quite often and more and more I'm disappointed :-( The environment is still awesome but the quality in food is just not what it use to be. Still absolutely love the patatas bravas but a lot of the hot tapas are not so hot anymore. Please get your old cooks back!!!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/12/2010

    The food here is really good for the price. It has a nice atmosphere with music, TVs, and lots of people! It looks small from the outside, but it is huge! Great authentic Spanish food, and amazing white sangria! The only downfall is the service- they are veryyyyyy slow. I think our waiter came 2 times. That was relatively annoying. This is not a place you want to go if you are in a hurry, but if you want to lounge around with some great  food at a decent price, come on in!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/24/2011

    This place was fantastic.  I came here on the recommendation of a friend.  The tapas are priced between $6-$12.00, but it adds up quickly.  The brisket, caramelized onions and fries was the best plate we ordered.

    RECOMMENDATION:
    The sangria is great, but if you only have two people, do not get the pitcher.  It's not that it's too much alcohol, it's just too much fruit and acid.  Get a glass each and then switch to beer or booze.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/15/2012

    Okay, so all of the other reviews about this place being loud are accurate.  There were probably about 10 empty tables when we were there (so about 3/4 full), and it was still quite noisy.  While the service was quick and attentive, the food was hit and miss.  Between my wife, my parents, and I, we ordered about 6 tapas and one dish of paella.  The tuna cannelloni was basically tuna salad in a fancy wrap.  Other dishes, like paella, mushrooms, queso de cabra, olives, and vegetables in balsamic oil, were tasty but nothing to write home about.  The one dish worth noting was the Croquetas de Pollo.  If I had to do it over again, I would order two or three of this dish.  It was excellent.

    Bottom line, only decent food and don't go here if you get headaches easily.

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/11/2011

    "My bad, we should've gone to Cafe Babareeba."

    That's right. That would be me, apologizing to my girlfriends for taking them to Iberico over Babareeba.

    -We walk in, let the greeter know for how many and our names, and stand there, like idiots. Not being told what to do or where to go. And the music was so unbearably loud by the bar area I couldn't understand A WORD she was saying when she did try to tell me where to go (only after I asked of course).
    -We're seated, with no menus. Then given the wrong menus. Wait another 5 minutes, we get TWO menus. There's three of us, by the way.
    -Waitress arrives, takes our orders, only she just takes the orders from TWO of us. Again, TABLE FOR THREE. We had to wave her over to come back and take the 3rd order.
    -Food was MEH. I've definitely...DEFINITELY...have experienced better. It was good, and decent---which are adjectives I abhor when it comes to describing tapas.
    -The worst part was the dessert. Seriously? You're going to give me a plantain banana, whole, not even fully cooked...throw some sauce and ice cream and call it dessert? I didn't even...get to drool.

    Likely not to return. I should've known better. And don't let the stars and number of reviews compared to Babareeba fool you.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/10/2011

    This place was awesome.  I'll start with the few drawbacks.  It was ridiculously crowded but I guess it was a Saturday night and the weather was nice.  Took about 1.5 to 2 hours to get seated (group of 8) which was kind of surprising because a bunch of 10-12+ groups were getting seated left and right.  But nothing a few pitchers of sangria couldn't fix.

    After finally getting seated, the food was awesome.  This place is absolutely perfect for big groups because you can just order whatever YOU want and then share cuz everyone has so much stuff and its just great, in every sense of the word.  Its a great place for a birthday and I highly recommend it.  Well done.  Will be back for sure.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/28/2010
    Listed in Death Row Meal

    had no idea how big this place was when i first walked in. its gigantic.

    they were super busy so its understandable they were a little slow getting us some water and drink orders.

    - queso de abra is going to go down as one of the better items i have ever had, hands down.
    - pulpo de plancha - octopus was real good. agree with my girlfriend when she said it could have used some type of sauce.
    - croquetas - good but would try something else next time.
    - paella - wanted to like this a lot. clams, mussels and shrimp were a littttle fishy tasting. kind of a let down.

    surprise of the night was when we were handed the bill and our server said the sangria we ordered was on him. no explanation. fine with me. maybe because they knew they were slow getting to us? that left me with a good taste in my mouth.

    ***big plus - the female manager who was upstairs looks just like Sofia Vergara. Seriously, she does.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/9/2013

    This was an excellent tapas restaurant. Great atmosphere and wonderful food. I can't remember the specific names of the dishes, but you must get the spicy potatoes and the goat cheese in marinara. The saffron scallops were to die for! Excellent sangria.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/3/2010
    1 check-in
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    If you're looking for a restaurant that is full of people, great food, and happy chatter, Cafe Iberico is for you.

    This restaurant is filled with Spanish tiles and the decor you'd expect for a tapas restaurant, nothing fancy. From the sangria, to the eggplant rolled with goat cheese, to the chocolate flan, this place has won me over. Not to mention, they have excellent coffee.

    The prices aren't outrageous by any means, and the portions are perfect so that you can try a couple things and not feel like you've overeaten.

    It looks like making reservations would be smart if you plan on going any time after 7 as the waiting area started to fill up around 8pm on a weekend night. I'm looking forward to going back!

  • 1.0 star rating
    8/10/2009

    Nope, nope, nope.

    It was 100 degrees the day I tried this place. Despite the open tables on the first floor, we were sat on the second floor, next to the empanada station. Second, the menu seemed.....childish. Pictures? Weird. The space is outdated, and could use a good scrubbing as well. Finally, The food was no better than any other tapas place I have been to, but the prices sure were higher.

    The service was ok.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/20/2012

    AMAZING FOOD!!!! Service was great, food was great, the only thing we needed were bigger tables!! The pictures on here helped a lot, we ordered the goat cheese, croquetes, seafood paella, shrimp and salad. Everything was really good. Sangria was good too! The food came out really fast, surprisingly for how much we ordered! Bigger tables would have been perfect, but everything was great!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/13/2008

    Great inexpensive restaurant with a variety of options and this place gets packed (so get there early).
    We ordered the half carafe of red sangria, San Miguel beer, assorted meats/cheese plate with pinto salad (roasted pepper type salad), house salad, sauteed mushrooms, chorizo & morcilla (one of the best ones I have had in a long time), beef tenderloin with caramelized onions and fries and for dessert, the chocolate mousse and a double expresso.  Total= $53.

    They also have a deli store inside the restaurant where you can purchase the dried cured meats by the pound as well as cheeses.  I purchased the cantimpalo since that is one of my favorites and they sliced it up perfectly.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/10/2009

    I'm not sure how useful my review is when there's 545 others on Cafe Iberico.

    Cafe Iberico is vegetarian-friendly. While there may be other tapas restaurants that offer more variety, Iberico's tapas are solid and moderately priced. I had the weekly special "Ensalada de Alubias con Cabrales y Neuces", basically a salad with fava beans, cabrales cheese, and crushed walnuts tossed with balsamic vinegar dressing. It was absolutely DELICIOUS. I was quite tempted to lick off my plate. The beans were buttery, the cheese creamy and spicy, while the walnuts added a slight crunch and the balsamic vinegar some tang. All the ingredients complemented eachother. They really need to put this on their permanent menu!

    The vegetarian paella was way better than Tapas Barcelona in Evanston. The rice was cooked just right, not too firm or mushy. Plenty of vegetables like artichokes, green beans, green peppers, and more are in the dish. One dish is enough to fill two hungry (but not ravenous people if they order tapas.)

    I rate Cafe Iberico 4.5 Stars because the food was good (oooh, the ensalada), not great but our waitress was super friendly and helpful while the bussers regularly came to the table to remove plates.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/17/2009

    Very very yummy.    We arrived about an hour before closing but that did not hamper the service one bit.    Everything came out hot and delish.    
    The seafood salad was incredible as were the marinated olives (especially the salty little garlic cloves).    The goat cheese was very good and we also loved the patatas bravas, which were spicier here than I was used to but very creamy.    
    Overally wonderful food, prices were great and sangria was excellent

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/5/2012

    Food was decent and menu was extensive, but it was LOUD!!!  I can't think of a restaurant that's been so loud outside of a Chuck E. Cheese...and it was a Tuesday night.  We first were seated next to a party of 15 that was basically screaming and laughing, but saw a table in the corner, so moved there.  It was only mildly better.  

    The flooring, walls and close proximity all make it a loud atmosphere.  Bring a large party there, but for a date or small group, Ba Ba Reeba is a much better option.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/31/2011

    The food here is really good.  The pincho de pollo is amazing.  I really haven't tried any food I didn't like.  The sangria is also good, and it's really not expensive (so we always get at least one pitcher!)  

    My only complaint is that they bring the food out too fast.  I know that sounds like a stupid complaint, but if you're there for a relaxed dinner, and ALL your food comes out at the same time in like 5 minutes, it kind of defeats the purpose of a relaxing dinner.  Usually we haven't even finished our sangria by the time we're done eating, and we're big drinkers...  It's probably because they're really busy and want to turn around the tables, but it's still kinda annoying.  I suppose I could just request that they bring the food out slower...haven't tried that yet.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/5/2010

    For the price I think this place is pretty great.  The seafood was done well, and the clams were some of the best I've had (the octopus was good too, though I could do without the fries).

    It's fairly casual, but you won't be out of place if you're dressed up.

    The only desert item I tried wasn't dessert, but coffee.  Still, their cafe con leche is excellent.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/12/2009

    I have been sending my guests here for years. Probably hundreds if not thousands of them. I FINALLY made it there myself and what a disappointment!!

    We arrived on a Friday night which I knew would be busy. We had a birthday party of 14 people. We stayed happy during our wait with a pitcher of sangria. Not the best I've had, but good nonetheless. When we reached our table, we were so excited to get started ordering. Unfortunately we sat for at least 20 minutes before we were brought menus!! Bogus. There were servers crawling all over the place, but no one noticed us trying to get their attention?

    When we finally got our menus and the very unfriendly waitress named IZEK came over, it was all huffs and puffs. She was rolling her eyes at us and nearly wrestled the menu from me when I wanted to point at a menu item because she could not seem to understand "pork loin". Then when my friend asked for pepperoncini, she brought sauteed green pepper and onion. Again we explained what we wanted, but instead got frozen whole jalapenos! Ahhhhhhhhhh!

    The food was ok. The croquettes were super tasty, but also super rich. One was enough. The calamari was the fattiest I have ever had (ick), though I liked that it was mixed with fries. The warm goat cheese in tomato sauce was the best item I tried that night by far. Crunchy, creamy, sweet, all in one! Potatoes -ok, tuna potato salad-outstanding, pork loin-ok, chicken skewers-ok.

    When I asked the manager for our servers name, she was more than accommodating in trying to rectify the situation even though I was not trying to make an issue out of it. What an outstanding display of managerial skill. Thank you! Too bad the waitress stood there after giving us the stink eye.

    They gained one extra HUGE star from me when they brought our gay friend a birthday dessert in the shape of a HUGE penis. Two scoops of ice cream at one end and a large plantain trailing to the other side of the plate. They even added a schmear of whipped cream on the tip for added effect. Brilliant and it tasted pretty d*mn good. Yes, I did bite off that tip.  :-)

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/14/2013

    Affordable tapas, delicious sangria, and chaotic nosy n bustling crowd during the dinner rush.  But hey it's chicago,  where else can you find good tapas at affordable prices?

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/26/2010

    I've been here a few times for dinner. I love tapas, and have been to many other tapas places since. Cafe Iberico is still among the top places to go for tasty Spanish tapas and consistent quality. The decor is very cute, Mediterranean and tiled.

    I'm looking forward  to going again.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/3/2012

    This is my go to stop before a Cubs day game. And everytime they've won, so that's an automatic +1 star.  

    Great selection of Tapas esp the Paella and the bread. I wish I remembered everything I've had here, but there's never been one thing I haven't enjoyed.  Though I can't vouch for the dessert because I don't think I've ever had enough room.  Though I can say the Sangria is great. Plus now they recently have half servings which is great if you want to try everything on the menu.

    Though I've never been their during dinner, lunch only. Great service, great food. A must try.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/9/2010

    Please tell me it was just a bad night!!! I hate Cafe Iberico!! Like always, it's packed and loud. The service was almost pure s*** that Wednesday night. My waiter took my order and he was MIA the rest of the night. One of my orders was forgotten and so I guess it was the manager who took stepped in as our waiter. The waiters looked P.O.'d.
    The food was okay...I've had waaaayyy better. Maybe I'll try the paellas next time. I know I'm stressing over the service, but it is as important as the food.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/2/2010

    Being from Spain, and having eaten at Spanish restaurants all over the US, I can say that Cafe Iberico is easily either the best or tied for the best and most authentic I have eaten at.  I go here everytime I go to Chicago, and my most recent visit did not disappoint.  The place is huge, but is pretty much always packed.  We waited about 40 minutes to get in on a Friday night, when it was crammed with people and super loud.  

    We sat and ordered about 13 different tapas, 1 entree and 5 desserts for the 4 of us.  Fantastic.  Every single thing we ordered came out perfectly.  I am usually accepting of the reality that in most places like this, you will get 1 or 2 things that come out less than perfect, as it is the nature of the beast.  Some tapas just have an off night sometimes, or in some places they do not do a great job with one particular item.  Everything we ordered was fantastic.

    The tomato and jamon bread was excellent, although calling it Jamon Iberico is a misnomer, as it is clearly Jamon Serrano, not the more expensive and delicious Iberico.  The garlic mushrooms were sublime.  Garlicky, firm, and well  cooked.  Patatas bravas were a little spicy, but not too much, and had a nice rich sauce without it being very creamy as in some places.  The tortilla was moist inside and still well cooked, just as I personally love it.  The list goes on...garlic shrimp, pork loin, beans and chorizo stew, croquetas, grilled squid, all delicious.  For dessert we had filloas with ice cream, a white chocolate crema catalana (like a brulee), wine soaked pears with ice cream and a booze soaked sponge cake.  Delicious.  

    The best thing is that for 4 people eating enough for 6, we paid 172 with tax.  This included 32 worth of alcohol (3 Sam Adams and 3 Jack and Cokes), and the exorbitant Chicago restaurant sales tax.  Food alone was under $140, which is superb.  Probably the cheapest spanish restaurant I have eaten at in the US from San Francisco to New York.  For the awesome food, extensive tapas selection and price, you can't beat it.  At least not in my opinion.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/18/2010

    I like tapas and I've been to a few good tapas spots. However, I've never been to a great tapas restaurant that has zero pretentiousness - essentially tapas in a comfort food setting. I think that's one of things I like most about Café Iberico. Service was good, atmosphere was great and the food... well, here's the rundown on the food:

    - (A-) ENSALADA DE ESPINACA CON QUESO DE CABRA (Spinach salad topped with goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette): Loved it - great salad to start with
    - (A) QUESO DE CABRA (Baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce): Note to self, I love goat cheese. How had I forgotten this
    - (B+) GAMBAS AL AJILLO (Grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine.): These were great, not mind blowing, but great
    - (B+) CHAMPIÑONES A LA PLANCHA (Grilled mushrooms with garlic and olive oil.): I'm not a mushrooms guy and even I liked these
    - (C+) CHORIZO Y MORCILLA (A combination platter of grilled Spanish style sausages.): This was my bad call. Trust me, I have a Morcilla source in Lawrence, MA... I know a thing or two here and this was weak
    - (B-) VIEIRAS A LA PLANCHA (Grilled sea scallops with saffron sauce): Nothing special here, I'd pass
    - (A-)PATATAS BRAVAS (Spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce.): Sounds simple, but these spicy potatoes are pretty amazing.

    Having been here twice now, I highly recommend Café Iberico to anyone looking for good tapas, great group dining or even a solid casual meal.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/6/2010

    This place is awesome! I've been to Spain and their paella iberica is soo close to what I ate in Valencia, well, the one in Valencia had rabbit, but who really cares :) The tapas whether the garlic shrimp, or the squid, or the spicy potatoes are so delish. The sangria whether red or white (they have both) is just perfect! The best part of this place is that it's cheap, really chill environment, a little loud on the weekends, and I guess the only bad thing is that the wait on the weekend can get a lil hectic. However, if you grab a seat by the bar, order yourself a pitcher of Sangria, the time will really fly by! I'm def. a fan and will be back!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/8/2010

    I love Cafe Iberico.  I feel like we can't go into the city without going here.  The food is friggin awesome.  I would be perfectly content eating their tapas and sangria and nothing else for the rest of my life.  I could list all of my favorite dishes, but it would be just about everything on the menu.

    The wait can be a bitch sometimes though.  If you go late enough (and they have nice late hours) you can usually get a table right away, even on a weekend.  It is also very loud in there.  Part of which is due to these odd videos they play on tvs all over the place.  They are strangely entertaining though, and I find myself mesmerized by them all too often.  

    I can't wait to go back now...writing this review made me crave some patatas ali-oli and croquetas de pollo...mmmmmmm....

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/26/2010

    Very delicious tapas. Very long wait, but if you get some sangria while you wait, I assure you it's worth the wait. The tapas do not stray into the avant-garde (thank God), and are very good even for first-time tapas eaters.

    The mushrooms were very good. The croquettes were just okay. Mussels were AWESOME.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/22/2009

    I've never had tapas, before. We went there with a group of 14 for a birthday celebration. The table ordered up 13-15 tapas (mostly hot), a couple paellas and a couple pitchers of sangria. We passed plates the whole time; Everything was excellent. Some table favorites were the queso de cabra, pulpo a la plancha, chorizo y morcilla, vieira a la plancha and patatas bravas (i think we had 3 or 4 plates of those).

    Good setting for a big group, though our conversation was definitely split in half, down the long table. It was also very loud, but that seemed to fit the plate-passing feeling of the whole place.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/21/2010

    Came here for a 21st birthday dinner for my friend; each one of us got a tapas which was enough for the whole table.

    A lot of us was vegetarians (myself included), and the tapas we chose were really good. The goat's cheese was delicious  So was the tomato salad that my friend got .

    Also, this is a great place for a birthday celebration for those with a sense of humor. The free dessert they give comes in a very...tantalizing shape and is delicious..no pun intended.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/7/2011

    I love me some tapas, and the food here is as good as it gets!
    The only drawback is that the beautiful floor and wall tiles make for a very loud cafeteria-like atmosphere. Bring some ear plugs, and dig in!

    The wait can easily be over an hour, but a pitcher of delicious sangria makes it so much more bearable.

  • 1.0 star rating
    6/22/2012

    Am I the only one disliking it? I don know where all the great reviews coming from. Just want to describe one really awful experience of mine.

    Service:
    Went there after reading on yelp, a girl led us to the table, gave us the menu and said she will be right with us. After we got the menu I specifically asked for a cup of hot water, she said yes and then never came back. We sat right next to the cash counter! She walks around us all the time and didnt care to ask if we are ready to order or bring the water. We had to call another waiter who doesnt speak very fluent English,long story short, we ordered several tapas(small portion) and ended up having a main course for one of them! We said we didnt order this one and he said yes you did. I told him that I am pretty sure about what I ordered. He seemed really pissed, took the plate, turned his back to me and walked away when I was trying to order sth more. I was really unhappy!!!

    Food:
    We didnt order wines, so cant comment on that. What I can say is that we ordered the signature dish(forget its name but it is a big pan of fried rice with some seafood on it which takes 45 mins) . It is tasteless!!!!It is just fried rice with some shrimps! Everyone can cook it! I can be chef for it!! The other dish we ordered is a pot of broth muscles, tasteless as well. So disappointing. The tapas are okay but I have had better in Chicago.

    All in all, will never visit again, really got my nerves.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/2/2009 Updated review

    Yep, still a no-go.
    With friends in town who wanted to get tapas downtown by their hotel, we figured we'd give Iberico another try. They tried to convince us to head to the upstairs pinxtos bar and now I wish we would have, maybe it would have beeb better.

    Over about 2.5 hours, between 4 people we have a round or two of beers, two pitchers of yummy, cheap sangria, and just 5 tapas plates. Why  not more food? It just wasn't good.

    It wasn't bad, but again everything was utterly and completely (with the exception of the jamon) lacking in any major taste. It was all just so bland and unmemorable again. Not a abd price at around $80 for all four or us, but I would have rather paid more and actually enjoyed my food.

    2.0 star rating
    10/26/2007 Previous review
    So disappointed.
    Let me start by saying I LOVE tapas. I like small portions and I enjoy most of the…
    Read more
  • 5.0 star rating
    11/6/2010

    It says something when this place is packed every time my friends and I go here.  I've been here at least a dozen times now and Cafe Iberico doesn't disappoint.  

    Excellent atmosphere if you don't mind the place being a little rowdy and loud.  

    Food is superb!  Here are the must have's:  Smoked salmon with capers and fresh dill cream sauce / Small clams sauteed with shallots, white wine and parsley / Grilled squid with olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice / Any of the paella / Spicy potatoes / Dessert: Sauteed banana w/ caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.

    I love all things food - meats, seafood, veggies, fruits - I don't discriminate as long as you make it right.  At Cafe Iberico I have to say the seafood dishes are the standouts.  Not a huge fan of their meat dishes unfortunately.  But whenever I need a seafood or spicy potato fix, I know where to go.  

    Enjoy!

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/11/2009

    IBERICO... what you do to me! I've been a faithful friend for years... most every bday I am yours & as I would have it: you are mine. You shower me with wonderful goodies... decadent yummy food coupled with fruity, zesty, tangy Sangria... and amazingly happy, friendly & quick service! What do I owe to such greatness?!

    TAKE NOTE: this place: always busy! My little secret: SHSH! If you end up being 20th on the list (as can happen) head to the bar... order drinks & appetizers.. you'll be finished & happily in hand with Sangria most possibly before you get seated. Seating does go fast... still no idea how... considering how much traffic pulls through the place! I sit in wonder often... how do they do it? Traffic, fast turn around & amazingly wondrous fresh yummies each & every time!

    A FAN OF SANGRIA? GOOOOOOO! You would be silly not to!

    If you are looking for a quiet, solitary subdude place... this may not be it! Energy it has... music video's, fast moving staff & full of Latin FLAVA...

    Call me if your going! Toodles!

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/14/2010

    Great food! Service was ok but the food was great! These aren't the tapas that I'm used to when I was in Spain but still, the food was good! Inexpensive for everything we got. I loved their duck and sangria. Mmmm... I need to go back.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/10/2010

    I'm just not that into this place.  It's always loud and crowded, the service is a bit slow, the food leaves you unsatisfied, and the sangrias aren't anything special.

    I really have given Cafe Iberico a lot of chances.  The first time I went there in 2002 was probably the only time I liked it (and that's probably only because I was on a date with a really fun guy).  It has been on a steady decline since and I have been back there at least 5 times.  Each time the food has tasted less fresh and less flavorful.

    Sorry Iberico, but I'd rather spend the 15 extra minutes and head over to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/27/2010

    Several years ago this place was an authentic Spanish tapas bar.  The food was fantastic, the prices were reasonable, the atmosphere was hip, and the experience was fun.

    I don't know what happened, but I assume new owners.  The recipes have all changed, and it has a suburban character now.  It was better before.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 1.0 star rating
    7/25/2011

    i wont be returning to cafe iberico.  they clearly have enough business (and enough attitude) that my experience does not matter to them.  take that, added to a likely health code violation, and you can bet your bottom that i would rather spend my money and time elsewhere.

    first, the food is at best mediocre/inconsistent, and at worst, inauthentic and unsanitary.  we ordered the grilled mushrooms, lamb shank, paella iberico, and octopus.  nothing was extraordinary, and really, only the paella was delicious.  the mushrooms were underseasoned, the lamb was strangely sweet, and the octopus was oily and unremarkable.  the last time i came to cafe iberico, i wanted to rave about the octopus and how tender it was.  i waxed poetic about the gambas al ajillo and how i ate so much garlic that i was embarrassed to kiss my boyfriend afterwards.  none of that wonder, fun, and delight was present this visit.

    maybe it was because of the bread service.  we sat right in front of the bus boy galley and watched as uneaten pieces of bread from other tables were combined and then re-served to other patrons.  when i complained and voiced my displeasure, it was clear from the bus boy's reaction that this practice is customary for this restaurant.  for that reason alone, i wont be returning.

    last, the restaurant was loud and the service was less than kind.  we had some sangria at the bar as we waited to be seated, and the hostess was flustered and rushed as she sat a number of big groups.  all in all, just a negative experience.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/24/2010

    Food, drinks, atmosphere....ALL GREAT! I have been here numerous times and love it each time!
    Make sure that you make a reservation during weekend or you might be waiting for awhile :)

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/21/2012

    Besides the lenghty wait for a table the food was terrific as usual.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/4/2009
    1 check-in

    This place rocks! This place rocks! (singing) So, what can I say about Cafe Iberico? I have tried many other tapas places, and none have ever compared to this place. The Spanish style decorations, tile walls, and large bar area... all very cool! The best thing ever, is the food. Seafood Paella, Jamon Iberico, Grilled Octopus, Sea Scallops, Shrimp, and Squid are out of this world! Beef Tenderloin with Fries is also wonderful.
    The only negative part is that there is almost always a long wait. Of course unless you go at around 5PM, I've done it. It's not crowded at that point, but it makes for an early evening, especially if you're planning on having the Sangria (which is fantastic). It's strong, but tasty. If you've never had it, don't eat the fruit in the bottom unless you want to get super drunk FAST! I've seen it happen ;-).

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/16/2010

    I've been here a few times and while the experiences have varied, the food has been consistently okay.

    The spicy potatoes are good, the grilled goat cheese is delicious (and I generally dislike goat cheese), and I'd hog all the mushrooms if I had no shame. Both times, someone wanted paella that was shared, and both times I can't say I'm a big fan and the wait made it a late arrival that was unnecessary after gorging on the other dishes.

    The bar is dark and crowded, it's too noisy to make conversation without some shouting or embellished talking, and the waitstaff can be on the curt side and, at times, very scarce.

    If you come here for a birthday, they couldn't offer cake, so to ensure my friend wanted to kill all of us, they gave us a phallic Platano al Caramelo (1 sauteed banana, 2 large mounds of vanilla ice cream, and a friend with a very red face vowing to never go out anywhere with us ever again.) Fun times (get your mind out of the gutter people)!

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/18/2010

    This place has very tasty, traditional Spanish tapas, and at a very reasonable price. But DON'T go here on Friday or Saturday unless you're not in the mood to be surrounded by an insane amount of noise. I went here on a Saturday night with my boyfriend, and we felt as though we were surrounded by wicked witches because the shrill laughing all around us was such an assault on our ears.

    If you are with a big group, or getting ready for a raucous night out, this is the perfect place. But if you're not in the mood to yell and leave with a ringing in your ears, then opt for a NON-Friday/Saturday night.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/10/2012

    Went for dinner after work last Friday.  The staff was really friendly about changing one of the bar TVs for us to watch a soccer game we wanted to see. (You can't request a change to the TVs in the dining room).

    The food was very tasty and the tapas' portions were more generous than I expected.  The preparation was heavier than I imagined (lots of bread and cream based broths).  The sangria was good.

    Would go back for dinner anytime.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/5/2011

    The best tapas place in Chicago!

    Please don't forget to try salpicon de marisco; seafood salad.  I always get that dish and feel like I need to have one more order:) Their Sangria is also great.  

    Their great service with an affordable price will definitely make you happy and full.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/30/2010

    I'll start out by saying that I haven't been to Iberico in over 10 years...so I was excited when our friend invited us there for a birthday dinner.

    Sangria - tasty, not the best but aok.  Great price.

    Food - some hits and some misses...  The garlic potato salad here is awesome, but the potatoes' bravas are soggy and ick.  Everything else was pretty good, from the croquettes to the scallops to the goat cheese in tomato sauce.  Sauces were delish, love to sop them up with my bread.  Only other thing I disliked was the beef tenderloin as it was dry and sad (the caramelized onions, however, were great).

    Overall, a fun experience, not top notch but worth it.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/18/2013
    1 check-in

    Busy place. Nice atmosphere. One guy took our order, then we never saw him again, 3 others guys brought us our food and then we had to ask another waiter for our check. The beef skewer and mushroom tapas were good.... The paella was a different story, very dry. Rice tasted like the 90 second uncle bens microwavable spanish rice.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/22/2010
    2 check-ins

    I'm embarrassed to admit that I just finally went to Cafe Iberico for the first time since I moved to Chicago almost eight years ago.  And, I lived right down the street.  :(  Shame on me!  

    By far the BEST tapas I've had in Chicago.  This place blows Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba out of the water.  The paella reminded me of being in Spain.  We ordered a number of different tapas and were really pleased with everything.  The garlic aoli is amazing....on everything!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/10/2012
    1 check-in

    four words: pulpo a la pancha. hands down the heartiest, tastiest octopus i've ever sampled, and it was a huge portion too. it came mixed in with fries, who would've thunk that combination works so well?

    as for the other dishes, the goat cheese/toasted bread and the chicken/ham croquettes were okay, but skip the mixed salad.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/15/2010

    i wish i had better warning about the portions before i got there b/c we were starving by the time we walked in the front door. we ended up ordering a whole bunch of things off the menu including the queso de cabra. big mistake (ordering so much, goat cheese is never a mistake. ) The portions at this place are HUGE. I mean, I've only been to a couple tapas places in my life but I thought they were supposed to be small plates so I wasn't expecting so much food!

    the food itself was very tasty. everything was technically correct but nothing really blew me away. I guess if you're looking for some haute cuisine don't go here. but if you're looking for a whole lot of high quality home style spanish food then come here. it also seemed like it would be very family friendly.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/13/2010

    My meal at Iberico was okay. Definitely not bad, but I can't find anything to recommend this place. My friend had wanted to come and left a bit disappointed.

    I can't even remember what we had...

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/30/2012

    Great spot to chill with friends

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/18/2007

    After Earwax Cafe, this was one of the first places I ate in the city of Chicago, years ago as a poor college student visiting from Nebraska. My two girlfriends and I who had traveled to the area together fell in love with the restaurant and it's tight quarters, crowded dining areas and delicious sangria. We likened it to our little slice of New York, Sex in the City style.

    The menu is vast and has something for everyone, whether you don't eat red meat or are a vegetarian. The desserts also are quite divine and the selection is paramount.

    The four or five times I've been here, the service was consistently good and the food was consistently cooked perfectly and seasoned just the same. That is, with the exception of my last trip ...

    The crowd was particularly large and the wait was longer than normal. The dining area was overly crowded and even though I'm used to the waiters doing topsy turvy dances across the dining room with trays of food, it was so packed it was unsettling. The fish was overcooked, the chicken was overcooked, and the only pleasant part of the meal was the dessert. All of the meat and veggie dishes were overcooked and dry as a bone ... talk about disappointing. The freshness just wasn't there, unfortunately.

    This isn't enough to keep me from going back, though. I'm willing to give it another shot before saying "Adios!" The selections are amazing and there's always something new to be had on the expanding menu.

    Give it a shot and if it doesn't sit well and the food is dry and unpleasant after a few gos ... then just walk away, my friend.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/4/2012

    It was good.  This is one of the first places I went to in Chicago.  It was a while ago so I don't remember the food.  The sangria was good though ;-).  The chef also came out to say hello.  It seemed like a great place for events, business or romance.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/17/2009

    First and foremost, their Sangria kicks ass!
    Great atmosphere- People watching is a blast, for those who share that interest. Tapas are delish!
    `Mussels- Great.
    `Spicy Potatotes- Delish.
    `Chicken brochette - Yummy.
    `Grilled shrimp- Tasty.
    Another plus- very affordable. This place is definitely great for groups. A definite must try!

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/23/2012

    It was a fun day shopping Mag-Mile and we were hungry! Our friend Erica recommend this tapas place near by. We had the paella and it was yummy! We also started the meal with the seafood salad which was a good intro to the food to come. To top it all off we got a pitcher of sangria! That made the whole experience great. It's a good change of pace from the hot dogs and pizza Chicago is known for.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/12/2010

    When pressed to select a favorite restaurant in the city (which I have a VERY hard time doing!) Cafe Iberico is generally what comes out of my mouth.

    I've never waited for a table, but I've never been at a peak time.

    Tapas: goooood
    Sangria: goooood
    Paealla: goooood

    What more can you ask for?

    The prices are great and the portions are giant for tapas! The atmosphere is fun and vibrant. I can't wait to go again soooooon!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/12/2010

    Ah, I lament the fact that they don't take reservations. The wait here can get ridiculous when you have a big group (which is the best way to eat tapas~) Definitely send someone in asap to put your name and group number down on the list. Then your name will pop up on the TV screens when your table is ready. I suggest trying to go on a non-busy night. The prices are really great here! I've always paid less than $20/person and have been really full.

    My favorite dishes:
    * Grilled octopus and potatoes- really flavorful and bursting with garlic flavors
    * patatas bravas- we were starving, and this was the first dish that came out, which was very delicious!
    * mushroom mix- i heart mushrooms, and these were really yummy, with deep woodsy flavors
    * mussels in marinara- sadly because of the sharing of plates, I only got to eat ONE lonely mussel, but the sauce really complemented the mussels, and I definitely wanted more...

    I wasn't a big fan of the white sangria, the fruit honestly wasn't "marinated" long enough within the drink. I LOVE sangria, but I think I would have preferred the red sangria.

    Fun place for groups when you don't want to break the bank! Definitely want to come back to try the more adventurous specials.. (sweetbreads anyone?)

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/1/2009

    This place is for party-eating. What is party eating you ask? Get a group together, order some sangria and have at it. This place is loud and jam packed more often than not. This is NOT a date place. Order a crap load of food and share with your crew. You won't be able to have intimate discussions here so hopefully, you'll have so much food in front of you that you won't be able to talk, and therefore, won't have to strain to hear the people next to you.

    My go to dishes are the jamon iberico, patatas bravas, queso de cabra, the chorizo y morcilla, and the paella iberica. The portions here are fairly large for tapas, which is sweet when you go with a group. Everybody gets a bit of everything - which really is the point right?

    The service is kinda slow. Not the worst thing in the world when you can linger over multiple pitchers of sangria. Except that the sangria here is kinda weak. I mean, I enjoy a good vino, but I enjoy it even more when I can actually get a bit bubbly. This place is also cramped. Tables are pretty close together and with all the stuff on the table, it's hard to make room for all the dishes.

    All in all, for what you spend - it's a great deal. Just get yourself in the mood for a dinner 'party' experience. Hell, throw on a little 'My Girl Wants to Party All the Time" a la Eddie Murphy on the way over to get yourself in party mode and have at it.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/7/2011

    I have been going to Cafe Iberico for years. Sometimes multiple times a week! It is my absolute fave restaurant in Chicago.

    The food is consistently delicious and cheap! My fave tapas are (in English) the spicy potatoes, the garlic shrimp, goat cheese, octopus and fries, the mushrooms, and the mussels. Trust me, get the mussels! They're HUGE, not like those scrawny little pathetic mussels they serve everywhere else. As far as the paellas go, they are definitely worth the wait. In my opinion, the veggie one taste the best.

    Screw spending so much money on cocktails. Get loaded off one cheap pitcher of red sangria. So soooooo good.

    I'm not really sure why some other yelpers compare Cafe baba reeba to Iberico, they're not even close. Absolutely nothing authentic about that place.

    People on their high horse will consider these to be cons:
    It's loud, it's busy, they don't take reservations, and the servers are all over the place. I, on the other hand, couldn't care less. It's so worth it.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/6/2012

    Food is great! The banana dessert, even though it looked like I was chowing down on a sautéed penis, was AWESOME. The server, however, was not good. I realize I tend to rate places based on service, and this is not only because I am a server, but also because I believe that the most important part of your experience at a restaurant is the hospitality. This man was quite rude. It's my friend's birthday. She was told on the phone when she made the reservation that she would be given a free birthday dessert. We brought to the server's (named David M) attention that it was put on the bill. Instead of getting a manager, he argued with my friend, and said "ask any server here, we don't give stuff for free." He then walked away and pointed at our table while laughing and telling his coworkers about our dessert b.s. He came back to the table about 8 minutes later to inform us that he charged $132.00 on a card we asked to have charged only $30.00. Pay attention! I can't stand this crap. He went back to void everything and start over, and wound up charging the $30.00 to the card TWICE! We asked to speak to the manager and he asked for a credit card to fix the mistake. We asked again for the manager and he asked again for the card. The birthday girl then said "here's an idea, GO GET THE MANAGER!" He went and got the manager and he handled the situation... Sort of. He explained what happened, which we already fricken knew. He wound up taking 50 bucks off our bill after we had to ASK for some sort of resolution, which after discount was still $302.00. If you're spending that much money at a restaurant, you damn well better get the best fricken service you have EVER gotten. I was really disappointed. If you love tapas, or have been meaning to try it, eat here, and enjoy it. Just don't expect great service. The city and its restaurants need to hire NICE, FRIENDLY, ATTENTIVE staff. (Not all of you suck. Just David M, and some poo heads at the bagel.)

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/25/2010

    Cafe Iberico was my first foray into Chicago tapas. Right off the bat it wasn't what I was expecting, which was an intimate, dimly lit tapas bar with few a tables and maybe some Spanish guitar to set the mood. It's sort of the Applebees of tapas places, but not in an entirely bad way. More like in a I could see this place being in any smaller Midwestern town and being very attractive to non-adventurous eaters kind of way. It's big, loud, fast and only vaguely Spanish. But the food was good. Didn't knock my socks off, but I had fun and left full.

    Here's the rundown:

    Patatas Bravas - Cubed potatoes in a smokey, spicy tomato sauce. The highlight of the meal for me. Portion was big enough so that the three of us got about two big spoonfuls each. I could have polished off the whole thing myself.

    Queso de Cabra - Toasted french bread with a tomato and mozzarella dipping sauce. Tangy and good, but not a standout. It takes a lot to mess up cheesy tomato bread. Five pieces so not an easy split.

    Camerones Gambia - Grilled shrimp in butter sauce. Nine to ten shrimp in an order. They are not huge but are tasty. Like the queso, it's a solid dish but a bit forgettable.

    Salmon and Scallops (forgot the Spanish name) - Three chunks of salmon and three small scallops in a green garlic sauce. I expected the sauce to be spicier but it was more sweet. Not a ton of flavor on the seafood and the salmon was dry. Probably the low note for me.

    Vegetable Paella - Large pan of rice with peppers, onions, zucchini, carrots and squash. The sauce was really flavorful, almost like soy sauce. Big enough to be a meal for one person.

    Tiramisu - Basic preparation (lady fingers in Baileys plus cocoa powder) but with drizzled with STRAWBERRY sauce and chunks. Uh, what?! It's tiramisu, people. Chocolate sauce that shit up. And maybe add some vanilla ice cream. Just sayin'. This one confused me and I wasn't feeling it. Wish I'd gotten the crepes.

    Fried Banana - The most phallic dessert imaginable. But so good. Seved with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream. Putting aside the whole fruit as dessert issue, I really liked this and would get again.

    Red Sangria - Fruity and delicious but, in the grand tradition of sangria, not strong at all.

    Caipirinha - So good. A great summer drink, but delicious all year round. Light, refreshing and just sugary enough. HIghly recommend this one.

    This place is better suited to big groups, where you're not as interested in the ambiance and more about being able to cram a bunch of people around a table and chat and share some OK food. Probably why they don't take resies for parties of fewer than six. Not a good spot for date night or trying to impress your dining companion.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/28/2009

    Terrible ambience.
    Lamentable sangria.

    But those tapas are NICE!  We didn't order anything super adventurous or exciting, but most things were top-notch.  The only lackluster dish for me was the grilled squid, which was a little overdone and lacking in flavor.  Other than that, I wholeheartedly recommend the goat cheese (!), spicy potatoes (!), grilled mushrooms, grilled shrimp, the beef skewer (fries are a meh) and the fried banana and the chocolate flan for dessert.  I was surprised, to say the least, when the bill came - it ended up being CHEAP and we were FULL.  Good deal!

    Service was speedy and only got mixed up once - that's pretty good in my mind, considering how many tables they have and how many dishes they're delivering to each table, right?!  We came in on the early side on a Saturday evening and didn't have to wait to be seated (nice!) but we did get seated way way WAY in the back by the kitchen (and next to the weird shelves full of boxes of extra plates, flatware, etc.).

    In a world where every restaurant seems to think it can pull off "tapas" in any cuisine, Cafe Iberico is refreshingly faithful to the real deal and a meal here doesn't break the bank.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/20/2013

    Great for tapas!

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/16/2010
    1 check-in

    There's only one thing that I really like about this place and that is the prices.

    That's it.

    This place has THE most inconsistent hostesses and service. One time they gave away our reservation for 10 people to a table of 4 people. Mind you, this person who was given our table didn't have the same name...or more importantly 10 people. The next time, my friend met us there and asked where our table was and the hostess said that there was nobody there by that name. Really? We had literally just been seated before my friend came in.

    The dining area feels like you're eating in a mess hall (common name for military cafeteria). It's loud and packed with people. You literally have to yell for your friends across the table to hear you.

    As for the food (and sangria) its good but nothing to write home about. I ordered the exact same dishes on both visits and it didn't even look like the same dish. That may be deemed as exhibiting creativity, but when it doesn't even taste the same, I have a problem.

    I really don't think that I'll go back to this place. One mishap, you think its just a fluke....two mishaps, there's something wrong.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/10/2010

    I heart cafe iberico! This has been the go-to place for tapas for years with the GFs. It's the best place to order a pitcher of sangria (white please) and the usuals: scallops with creamy  rice (no clue why its orange but its damn good), smoked salmon (this is where i got introduced to smoked salmon and have no regrets), clams (the white garlicky sauce is great with the bread), tenderloin skewers with fries, mushrooms or spicy potatoes, and something off the special menu (it changes every week i think). So delicious.

    I'm not a big fan of rice pudding or flan but the GFs say its good here. i'm a fan of the carmelized banana. yum. now i want me some tapas.....

  • 1.0 star rating
    12/2/2011

    Maybe I went on an off day, but the food here sucks. I usually love tapas and spanish food, but everything tasted soury-sweet when i went.  Pass.  I'll stick with Cafe Valencia.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/31/2009 Updated review

    Two of my coworkers were lucky enough to find each other and fall in love and get married. And they chose to get married on a fucking cruise ship, and then sail around the Caribbean for like, three weeks. Lucky sons of bitches.

    So when they came back, they threw a sort of luncheon for their friends and coworkers and those of us who were not lucky enough to go on the cruise with them, at Cafe Iberico.

    They'd rented out the room....I don't want to say "in the basement" because it didn't look like that at all, but you had to go down some stairs to get to it, and had set up decorations and favors and all kinds of cute stuff. We had 3 servers assigned to us, who doubled as bartenders/bringers of pitchers of sangria, who both never in our way AND super-attentive. Awesome.

    And the menu, which was pre-chosen - was chosen WISELY. Check it:

    ***COLD TAPAS***

    CANELON DE ATUN
    Tuna cannelloni served with a cream white wine sauce

    TORTILLA ESPAÑOLA
    Spanish style quiche with potatoes, onions and eggs

    TERNERA ASADA
    Roasted veal served cold with raspberry vinagrette

    JAMON IBERICO
    Spanish style cured ham with manchego cheese and tomato bread

    ***HOT TAPAS***

    PATATAS BRAVAS
    Spicy potatoes in a creamy tomato sauce

    PULPO A LA PLANCHA
    Grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil

    CHORIZO Y MORCILLA
    A combination platter of grilled Spanish style sausages

    QUESO DE CABRA
    Baked goat chese served with tomato basil sauce and garlic bread

    CROQUETAS DE POLLO
    Chicken and ham puffs served with ali-oli sauce

    SALMON A LA PIMIENTA
    Fresh grilled salmon with green peppercorn sauce

    PINCHO DE POLLO
    Marinated chicken skewer served with caramelized onions and rice

    Now go, and try everything I mentioned above.

    5.0 star rating
    8/14/2007 Previous review
    Can I just say how much I effing love tapas in general? Because I totally do. The concept of little… Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    7/2/2010
    2 check-ins
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    My wife & I had been mourning the loss of Emilio's on Clark & Fullerton, no more.  The tapas was most excellent the service lightning fast and the sangria the best I've had since I visited Spain. Our timing on a Saturday evening was  great in that we were seated immediately but it filled quickly and there was quite a queue as we exited around 8.  The prices are what you'd expect and the portions are just right..  The only slight negative is the noise level.
    Cafe Iberico is on our regular rotation.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/24/2010
    3 check-ins

    My first time to Cafe Iberico was probably 4 years ago, and I have NEVER had a bad experience. The location is great, the ambiance is true in it's authenticity, and the food is delicious. You should be prepared to wait it out if you're going on the weekend, and calling ahead will not help as they do not accept reservations. They have implemented a TV that displays your name when it is your turn to feast.

    I have favorite items that I always get, and on my last visit me and my girlfriend decided to try something new. So I wanted to order the RAXO ADOBADO (hot pork dish with home fries), and the waiter suggested the "special" version on the weekly specials list. I HATE myself for not noting the exact name, but If you are in there just look for it on the specials page (hopefully it is still there). This pork must have been cooked for hours it was so tender. If you're going on a date, and he or she maybe lost some teeth, or perhaps has been advised to drink ensure instead of solids by their doctor, FEED THEM THIS! It was deliciously moist and soft, and the mashed potatoes and peppers. It were awesome!

    My regular orders are the Croquetas, smoked salmon, clams, baked goat cheese, and the gambas. Salmon is always good, but they never give me enough bread! I love the clams the most, sometimes there are more shells than clams, and the shallot garlic sauce is bomb. I'd highly recommend these but you really can't go wrong. TRY THE PORK!

    Please don't leave without having some sangria. One pitcher will do the job for a party of 2. If you go on a friday or saturday you will probably have a 30-1hr wait, but you can take the time and walk around the neighborhood. There is a co-owned bar/restaurant in the same building that is considerably less crowded if you want a drink.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/24/2009

    Iberico makes what is probably the best sangria I've ever had.  We got a pitcher to split between three people, so I had quite a bit.  The one time I tried to pick up the pitcher to pour it for myself, a waiter stopped me and insisted on pouring it for me.  I love being unexpectedly pampered, so this was a delight.

    We had Tostadas de Pisto (toasted bread topped with stewed eggplant, peppers, onion, zucchini, tomato, and olive oil), Queso de Cabra (baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce), Gambas al Ajillo (grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine), and Patatas Manchegas (a special--baked, thin sliced potatoes that were drenched in Manchego cheese and olive oil).  Everything was heavenly.  Add in all the free bread and olive oil, and between three people, we were stuffed.  It's also worth mentioning that 4 tapas plates and a pitcher of sangria only ran us about $63, tax and tip included.  I think that's a great deal.

    I'd suggest going at 11:30-12:00 for lunch on a Saturday.  There were only, like, two other people in the entire restaurant (which I hear is a rarity).  Considering that, I wouldn't say it's a coincidence that our service was very attentive, friendly and professional.  Also, I loved the atmosphere--kind of dim and romantic, even when it was bright in the afternoon.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/6/2010

    Good cheap food, but iffy service.

    The tapas were all a good value... i think our table spent about $20 a person on the meal, including alcohol, tax and tip. I recommend the chicken croquettes and the goat cheese in particular.

    Service left something to be desired. Our waitress rushed us at the beginning, and was no where to be seen at the end, and did not offer much in the way of suggestions.

    It was packed on a Friday night. You can't make day-of reservations for the weekend, so plan ahead!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/24/2010

    Came here after a semester in Spain- totally felt like we were back there, downing sangria and talking for hooooours over delicious tapas, obviously followed by dancing and poor life choices =)

    Also. I agree that the sangria here is fantastic........ but mine's better. Neener.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/7/2009

    Overall, an underwhelming experience. I knew this place would be busy, but when we arrived a bit after 6 on a Thursday, we were sat quickly.  The pitcher of sangria was good, but not great.

    The tomato soup with goat cheese was AMAZING - the best thing we ate.

    Not the best tapas. I felt everything sort of lacked something, the potatoes and calamari needed salt, the lentil salad with salmon - just okay.  The menu didn't even include something wrapped in bacon (what tapas place doesn't have dates and/or shrimp wrapped in bacon?!?!).

    At the end of the day... I expected better.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/16/2010

    Came here on my first trip to Chicago, recommended by a bunch of friends since my bf and I are such foodies.

    For me, as a vegetarian, the tapas were so so.  My vegetarian-friendly tapas really truly just tasted like sides.  I got the spicy potatoes (patatas bravas), grilled mushrooms (champinones a la plancha), and the spanish omelette (tortilla espanola).  Spicy potatoes tasted like plain potatoes with a spicy kick... but I couldn't taste any real distinctive flavor that made me think of anything else but just potatoes.  Same for the mushrooms too... nothing too thrilling about the sauce.  Just tasted like cooked mushrooms.  Spanish omelette was good... but I kind of wish my favorite dish wasn't a cold tapa.

    My bf on the other hand really enjoyed his food.  I guess the tapas here are really only good for meat-eaters.  He got the chicken brochette (pincho de pollo), grilled octopus and fries (pulpo a la plancha), and the mussels in marinara (mejillones a la marinera).  His favorite was definitely the mussels as he claimed the marinara sauce to be really amazing with its richness in flavor.  He was determined to eat up all the sauce with our complimentary bread, even after finishing the mussels.  The octopus was very tender, he says, as octopus normally comes off kind of chewy to him... but he says Iberico's octopus was very good.  Chicken was good too and the caramelized onions on top were so good, he wouldn't mind learning the recipe to eat it with other meats too.

    I also had the sangria, but didn't find anything too excitingly different about it.  Maybe I'm just not enough of a sangria connoiseur to be able to tell you if it was any good.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/5/2013

    This is such a fun spot for groups and has the best tapas in the city. It almost makes coming home from the most wonderful trip to Spain bearable. Almost.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/17/2010

    If this weekend were the first time I'd been to Cafe Iberico, I would have gone with a solid 3 stars...but having been here before and had great experiences, I stuck with 4.  The food was just as good as it's always been...unfortunately, the service this go-round was completely lackluster.  

    We were seated downstairs, which was packed.  Let's just say, our waiter pulled many a houdini that night.  At one point, we were trying to order more food, and hadn't seen him in about 20 minutes or so...turned around, and he was standing at the bar eating.  Hmmm...once we finally ordered, they came out with one of the dishes, but not the other.  The waiter added both to the bill, and when we told him the other dish never made it to our table, he said he had to go ask the manager if it was okay to take it off the bill.  Ugh, whatever.

    On a very positive note, the food was as good as always.  We had a few pitchers of sangria, the goat cheese, mussels, shrimp, beef skewers, paella...and the spicy potatoes (holy spiciness) and the garlic mayonnaise potatoes.  I was still tasting the garlic potatoes the next day.  I can say with all confidence that there was not a single vampire to be found near me for a good 24 hours.

    For all that food and drink, our total was around $100 for four people.  Not bad.  As I said, I am giving this place the benefit of the doubt because their food is good...but I hope they spruce up their service soon.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    5/15/2010
    3 check-ins

    What to say! they by far have the BEST sangria I have had anywhere! I've been to Cafe Iberico about 5-10 times...i cant recall. The waitress I've had twice was a vegetarian (the same as I) so she was immensely helpful. I would have to say that their queso de cabra and patatas bravas are my favorite!

    I was recently there to celebrate my boyfriend's 31st birthday and we had a party of about 30 and they were very accomodating. I cant believe they were able to pull it off on a Saturday! I would have to say they have to be the best tapas place I have been to and I have been to plenty of them. The waitresses have always been promp and attentive and always care about their customers. I love all the food I have had minus the salad with the beets, but then again I was trying beets for the first time in my life and I should have gone with my guts and listened to everyone when they said beets taste like dirt...haha...will definitely go again and again!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/1/2012

    Love this place. It is perfect for a group outing & sharing a variety of different dishes is what this spot is all about! I'll even turn in my guy card & say that the sangria is great too! Service and food have never disappointed

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/11/2010
    1 check-in

    Atmosphere/Seating: I went there for the second time this past Monday.  They were pretty busy, but we were seated right away, which was great  If you ask me, it's an amazing sign if a restaurant is busy on a Monday night.  Also, they're tables aren't claustrophobically (I know that's not a word) close like other down restaurants.

    Food/Drink: We decided to try quite a few things on the menu, so we had the white sangria, croquetas de pollo (chicken and ham puffs), gambas al ajillo (grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic, and wine), raxo adobado (marinated pork loin), paella marinera (seafood paella).  

    Recommendations: It was all delicious, but I would definitely recommend the PAELLA MARINERA, which is definitely worth the wait, and the raxo adbado.

    Price: We ended up spending a bit more money than originally planned, but it was definitely worth the money.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/14/2010

    I am in love with this place. I studied abroad in southern Spain for a semester so I love to try out tapas places whenever I can to re-live my glory days, and this place is my favorite. The menu is very authentic- Spanish food tends to be very simple, so I can see why people think their food is boring or bland. Hint: drink more wine.

    Their standards are all good (patatas bravas, jamon, tortilla, etc) but I really dig the salpicon de mariscos (seafood salad.) They gave a great wine menu as well. I've had a few problems with service, but I factor that into their authenticity. Vale.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/30/2010
    1 check-in

    I came here for the first time with some friends for my birthday--my first time having tapas. The food was definitely good, and not too spendy for a tapas place (based on the amount of food you get per plate). I was definitely surprised by the "birthday banana", which was pretty hilarious.

    Came for a second time with another group of friends-- food still good. We waited for a table at the restaurant upstairs (i forget the name), which had really good drinks though the food didn't seem as appealing as Cafe Iberico's menu.

    Very good--will definitely bring friends here again for tapas!

  • 2.0 star rating
    2/16/2009 Updated review

    The horrible service and the disgusting mayo potatoes were the last straws for me and Cafe Iberico.  One person at my party of 10 said it well tonight. "it's cheap, but it also tastes cheap."

    3.0 star rating
    10/30/2008 Previous review
    I'm not really the biggest tapas fan for a few reasons:
    1) Not into the whole sharing thing. I think…
    Read more
  • 2.0 star rating
    1/3/2012

    I won't be coming back here. Stale bread was the first warning sign, but the overcooked meat and "fishy" shrimp really did it. Maybe I'm just spoiled by all the wonderful tapas spots in San Francisco.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/23/2009

    As far as tapas restaurants in Chicago, Cafe Iberico is one of the best.

    These dishes are truly authentic and offer a rich selection to chose. From mushrooms, ham, octopus, steak, soups, cheeses, and wine, Cafe Iberico is quite a pleasure-dome for the mouth.

    I came with a group of 8 people and we all ate a bit of almost everything. And honestly, there was not a single dish that I didn't like. So go ahead, close your eyes, point to an item on the menu, and enjoy the savory award.

    As for the sangria, Cafe Iberico makes the best sangria in all of Chicago. Well mixed, not super sweet, enough alcohol, and generous servings of fruits. Mmmmmm Mmmmmm.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/21/2009

    I have been to Cafe Iberico twice. The first time it was with a group of 12, and we only paid about $13 each for a great variety of delicious food. There was a wait, but we had some Sangria (a bit watery) and chatted in the downstairs bar, which though a bit tight and drafty (you can't escape the door!) was fine.

    Since I liked it that time, I brought my friend there for a late dinner last night around 8:30. They took our name and said it would appear on the scroll bar on the TV. We sat literally next to the hostess and watched cheesy music videos while waiting to be called... after my name hadn't come up for 30 minutes (we were told 20 minutes), we were starving since it was so late, so I checked in. They told me that the kitchen closed at 9:00 (it was exactly nine then) and that my name had appeared, which it had not. We hadn't moved! Regardless, we were right next to her and she could have told us if we had been called or made sure we still wanted dinner (her excuse: "I thought you'd changed your mind about wanting to eat"). The manager gave us a free pitcher of sangria for the next time, but honestly, the hostess was incredibly self-righteous and unhelpful and I think I'd rather try a different tapas place. The food is good, but there are plenty more tapas bars in Chicago!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/19/2011

    Finally, a place that offers decent wine without a ridiculous markup.  Tons of Spanish selections, and only Spanish selections, on that list.  My only minor criticism is that more Spanish regions need to be represented on that list.  Who else serves a bottle of a rioja reserva for $25-30, anyway?  Loved the octopus and the cooked sausage dishes, especially.  Food prices are very reasonable, also.  If I lived near there, I'd be eating there at least once a week.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/21/2012

    this place is always packed because it is delicious. A downside is that I have never been here where I didn't have to wait for 20+ minutes in their amazingly cramped bar/entrance way.
    Luckily you can start drinking sangria at this point (in pichers) and this will console you as you wait. Everything I've had was very good. I particularly enjoyed their seafood dishes. This is a great place to go with a large group but don't expect an intimate dinner the noise level gets very high. Still great drinks, great food and fun to take someone to whose never experienced tapas before.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/23/2007
    4 check-ins

    According to an entry on dictionary.com, a cafe (noun) is "a small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold."  

    So of course I was expecting a small little tapas restaurant.  I was actually shocked when I saw hundreds of people in this gigantic "cafe".  I was even more shocked at the Spanish music (which was kind of loud, but just right at the same time) and the pitchers of Sangria flying around everywhere.

    Though we started out the meal with a chicken salad, or pollo de ensalada (I am no good at Spanish anymore), we quickly moved into the patatas bravas (potatoes in a SPICY tomatoey sauce) and the queso de cabra (little bread pieces with a goat cheese/tomato spread).  Also, we did go through 1 1/2 pitchers of sangria, which was pretty tasty as well.

    I can definitely say that I was impressed with all of our choices, but I regret not being a little more exploratory in my food choices.  They have so many different options on the menu to suit any taste.  

    I can understand what the hype of this restaurant was about.  It is a great place to go, whether it's for a casual dinner, or to go before heading out on the town with a group of people.  Yay Iberico!

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/3/2009

    It's been awhile so the memory is a bit faint, however I distinctly recall loving this place.

    The food was delicious, of the "I can't stop eating even though I know I should" variety. The sangria was even better and I don't remember the last time I got drunk over dinner. Which might be why my memory is so hazy.

    Which is also why this review is fated to be so short. But then again, many things are short. Some good, some bad. Cafe Iberico falls into the good category. I shall be sure to return. Although maybe this time I'll drink less sangria.

    Or not.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/7/2010

    My friends and I went here on a Saturday night.  I knew for damn sure that we would have to wait.  The place is mobbed...always.  We were told about 40 mins for a table...which seemed reasonable.  They sent us upstairs with our pitcher of sangria which was sort of annoying but at least we could sit at the bar.  We finally got seated after an 1 hour and 15 mins.  Grrr.

    Anyway, we sit down and each of us order 2 tapas each.  They did start coming out too quick and since the tables are tiny...we were a little irratated.  I mean...where are we going to put it?  Our laps.  My bf had to tell him to stop coming out so fast.

    Now...lets talk about the food.  Fantastic.  The sangria...fantastic.  Every dish that we had tasted good.  I'm still thinking about the tomato and goat cheese.  The chicken and beef was really tender.  Our bill for 4 full people and a pitcher was only 100 bucks.  We all thought it was going to be way more than that.  It would have been 5 stars if the service was better.

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/4/2010

    Extremely unimpressed with the food. Ditto with the service.

    We ordered a number of dishes, the sausage (Chorizo Y Morcilla) was too salty, the bread that came with the baked goat cheese (Queso De Cabra) too hard, the stewed vegetables on toasted bread (Tastasdas De Pisto) too mushy. The Paella was aiiiiiight.

    The service here is also pretty terrible. Completely rushed, completely impersonal. The server brought us two wrong dishes before he brought us his first correct dish. He did the same thing with the checks. Meh.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/13/2013

    Delicious!! Amazing drinks, outstanding paella, and definitely try the goat cheese.

  • 1.0 star rating
    2/13/2013

    Very negative experience recently at Cafe Iberico.  Quick background, I've been going to this restaurant for more than 10 years. It used to be one of favorite restaurants.  However, the last few times I've been there, it just was not very good.  My last visit was the worst and I will not be returning.  None of the dishes were good.  Several, in particular, a shrimp and avocado dish, were terrible.  The potatoes in the potato salad were overcooked and mushy.  It seemed like some dishs may have been pre-made and then sat too long before being served.  We were seated upstairs, where there was no ambiance. There are signs of kabobs, etc. from a previous restaurant in the space that failed-odd.  Service was ok. I also noticed that the prices have went up and the food simply does not justify the prices.  Overall, this place, for whatever reason, has went down hill and is not longer a viable option for me. Both my husband and I felt ill all evening and the next day after dining here--not a fun way to spend the weekend, especially after paying $80 plus tip.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/30/2009

    Wonderful tapas restaurant at a fabulous price. I came on my last day in the windy city. My friend and I ordered the paella and several tapas dishes. The paella was so so, but everything else was delicious.

    Unfortunately this restaurant is a little out of the way, but if food is one of your highlights when vacationing, I would recommend that you make your way out there. It's worth it!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/26/2009

    So, we'll call it "my bad" for not having the foresight that a River North restaurant would require some form of reservations for a Friday night...sorry to my threesome date for the grueling hour and a half plus wait that we endured (despite being told 45 minutes at the name-giving).  

    And, on a side note: to the several angry patrons who b*tched out the hostesses for making them wait for so long...relax.  Not their fault.  Have a drink.  Be satisfied with giving the party of 25 (who was there from before we got there until we left) a dirty look on your way to your own table for attempting to dine like the Europeans...and then have another drink.

    Despite the horrendous wait (and the WAY off estimated time), we had a great dinner here.  Great because for the three of us, we had a pitcher of sangria and more tapas than we could handle and our bill was $54.  We were full on that.  And having waited so long, I was definitely tipsy.  Bonus.

    Patatas bravas were good, as were the gambas...pork tenderloin?  Yes please.  (However, after all this, we were rockin' some stanky breath...good thing we were rolling with gum.)  And of course, the queso de cabra...mmm!

    Yes, it's a long wait, but it's a fun spot.  Come here, try the tapas, enjoy some sangria.  Once you finally get to your table, sit back, have some sangria and "Salud" to your dining companions.

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/28/2009

    I've been here numerous times in the last few years but only now felt compelled to write a review.  The consistency has always been a nice thing about this restaurant, aside from the countless other obvious reasons, mainly the same as the previous other 500+ reviews .  Until my last trip there this past Saturday I was severely disappointed.  

    It's quite apparent that the PORTION SIZES HAVE BEEN REDUCED!  Has any other regulars else noticed this???  It's not on every dish, but some.  The first and most obvious reduction was the scallops.  It's blatantly obvious they cut them in half and serve them at the same price.  I wish I took a picture but what once was a nice plump scallop has now been reduced to a the size and thickness of a silver dollar!!!??

    The second, the mussels.  What once was a pot full of shellfish goodness that could barely be counted has also been reduced to a small bowl.  Third, the shrimps have also followed the same fate and are now about 6 sitting in an even smaller bowl.  Basically, the more expensive dishes are now about half the size of what they once were.  

    They seemed to have picked and chose what dishes get cut in half because the beef dishes seemed to be the same as with the deserts.

    Maybe they had to cut serving sizes in half at the same price to pay for the newly remodeled and larger bathrooms??

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/28/2009

    Cafe Iberico kicks everyone else's ass. The food is authentic, inexpensive and oh so tasty. The sangria is delish. I could live on the pan con tomate, ternera asada, ensalada rusa, calamares a la plancha, gazpacho and any of the seafood dishes. Oh, and the jamon iberico. The jamon!

    I still wish it was a tiny little place with only transplant Spaniards lurking over a bottle of red and chain smoking, but alas....great food brings new business. Good for them.

    This is not an intimate place...it's HUGE. But it has a great energy. The wait staff is fantastic. Excelente.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/15/2012

    best dish - octopus.

    in chicago this place gets a 4.  There isn't that many ethnic places to compare.  If it were in NYC, probably 3.5.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/10/2009 Updated review

    Still loving Cafe Iberico...

    This time, let's see:
    1/2 pitcher red sangria with fruit (yum!)
    Goat Cheese & toasted bread
    Spicy Potatoes
    Scallops & Rice
    Shrimp in Olive Oil & Garlic
    $40

    Plenty of food, and you can't beat the price. Everything I've had there is SO good. My only complaints are: 1. It's a little loud and 2. Service isn't bad, but it could be better.... but it's worth it every time. I love that you can try a little of everything without a huge bill. Definitely still my favorite tapas spot.

    4.0 star rating
    4/6/2008 Previous review
    Love this place. From the outside it looks like nothing! It's the best tapas restaurant in Chicago.… Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    4/8/2012

    Went there with a large group on a Saturday night. The service was average. While the waiter was semi-attentive, when it was time for entrees to come, everyone was handed the wrong order and there were short frenzies of confusion.

    My food was great, I shared a shrimp dish with my sister, garlic-mayonnaise potatoes and a steak & mushroom dish...And I always love a restaurant where I can buy Sangria by the pitcher.

    I would easily come to this restaurant again, maybe next time I'll ditch the group.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/6/2009
    1 check-in

    I really enjoy tapas and Cafe Iberico does it right.  The food is decently priced for how delicious the food is.  I have ventured quite a few times in the last couple of years.  

    This restaurant is always bustling - they recently opened an upstairs bar/restaurant to help accomodate the demand for seating.  They will not seat you until your party is complete, but once you do get settled in, prepare yourself for a feast comprised of many little things.

    I highly recommend the queso de cabra, tortilla espanola, and the jamon iberico.  The paella is definitely for sharing and is definitely worth revisiting.

    In honor of the true Iberian country, this vast array of goodness must  be accompanied with alcohol and the sangria will not dissappoint!  Whether it be the white or the red, make sure to line your stomach with some Spanish tapas before partaking too much - you may fall victim to the sweet wine drink and forget all else of the evening.

    I have visited with a few and with many and each time, the bill ends up being between $10-$20/person.  Not too shabby at all.  Just thinking about my last visit is creating a craving...

    Warning:  Parking is muy dificil in this area and watch those meters!  $2 per hour with a 2 hour time limit?  I know the city of Chicago is broke, but give a girl a break.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/15/2012

    Always liked coming here but tonight Night change that. Hate it when people say "there's no wait" less than 10min before you are physically there then all of a sudden there's a 15min wait as soon as u walk in. And the 15min in reality is 30-40min wait! Don't lie to your customers!! It is not f'n cool! Our time waiting here could've been spent somewhere else.. especially when people are hungry! Again.... DO NOT SAY THERE IS NO WAIT WHEN THERE REALLY IS! its been about 45min & we ate still waiting.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/19/2009

    I didn't go nuts for this place, but I didn't dislike it either.

    The room we ate in looked like a giant cafeteria.  Our server was slow, but I was enjoying my company so it didn't really bother me.  Food was pretty good and the prices are reasonable.  I liked the seafood paia a lot.   We drank a pitcher of Sangria, but I don't know what all the hype is about their Sangria.  It's definitely not the best I've had, but you can't beat a pitcher for $15.

    The best part about this restaurant is what they bring you on your birthday.  It's a giant banana with two scoops of ice cream at the end and a dab of whip cream on the tip.  Picture what that would look like, hillarious.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/17/2011

    I love Spain food and this is by far the best Tapas Bar I have ever gone too. The sangria is delicious and a whole pitch of goodness is even better. After 2of them suckers it was over. The portions are generous and the staff is very attentive. I will be going back. And hell their even open till 2am that is another plus!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/6/2007

    The food is pretty good for the prices they offer them at.  This place serves tapas.. just so nobody is confused.  That means small dishes to share with your table.  The only thing I don't like is that they don't take reservations.. and on a weekend night, the wait can be an hour.  Skip the valet.. you can find parking on the street if you look hard enough.  Oh, and bring plenty of quarters.

    The decor is nothing fancy.  I'd describe it more like a huge cafeteria style hall minus the line for food.

    I really do like their paella and clams though.  I'm not a fan of the sangria.. too much ice in my opinion.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/4/2012

    Loved all my eats in Chicago but this place was highly recommended which made it a must to try.  Prices were amazing for the quality of food, great atmosphere, amazing tapas/sangria! I thanked my boss over and over for the recommendation!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/10/2010

    Food is good, the service was decent as well. We had a pretty big party when I went but our food was handled well, drinks kept being refilled and everyone was happy.

    I definitely recommend going to Cafe Iberico especially if you are a big group, they take care of you there.

    Only con is, this place is so popular there is almost always, always a wait.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/3/2012

    Yum!  There are a lot of options on the menu, surely to have something for everyone!  Not to mention the sangria is DELICIOUS!  The service is very fast. Oh, and don't forget to order the special birthday dessert. ;-)

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/19/2010

    So it was a Friday night, and it was date night. I've heard great things about Iberico, and my boyfriend decided to take me here for a romantic night. We were sorely unimpressed.

    The ambiance is kind of terrible. The tables are ON TOP of each other, and you have to yell to be heard. It isn't even pretty inside.

    The service was terrible. We ordered five plates, one being a half roasted chicken. Our server told us that one would take an extra 15 minutes. We also ordered the white sangria. He brought it out quickly but it tasted like watered down, spiked apple juice.

    And I think that was the last time we saw the server until he brought us the bill.

    The food came out very quickly, but 4 of our 5 plates came out at the same time. It was ridiculous. I've gone to 4 other tapas places in Chicago, and never have I felt so rushed to get out of there. We were sitting at a small table, and there was NO room. So now were both shoving food into our mouths because there is still another plate coming, and there is no room for it. As we would finish these plates, no one would come and pick them up. So then we were sitting at a table with dirty plates for quite some time.

    Our meal:

    Goat Cheese - Meh... I've had better
    Jamon deli plate - SLIMY. It was gross. I couldn't eat it.
    Potato salad with tuna and carrots - Excellent, but hard to mess up.
    Beef Tenderloin Skewers  with fries -  Tasted exactly as expected. Nothing interesting about it.

    Finally someone came to take our plates away. We sat there for 15 to 20 minutes before the brought out our chicken. The chicken was incredible (and that earned this place an extra star), but it was just ridiculous to sit there at a way-too crowded table for such a long time when the food could have been spaced out because we would be waiting anyways.

    I would not recommend, nor would I return.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/27/2010

    Great tapas place!! The food is sooo good! This is a good place for big groups because you can share a bunch of items, but they don't take reservations so if you go there on a weekend you have to be prepared to wait a bit for a table to open up.

    The food is aweosme!! Patatas bravas are soooo good! Highly recommended! And the croquetas are amazing!! Also, the pincho de pollo and pincho de solomillo dishes are excellent. The mushroom dish is also really great! And definitely save room for desert... the crepe w/ ice cream and strawberry sauce is a perfect way to end the meal.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/26/2009

    If you're craving an authentic tapas place in Chicago- search no further. This has a bar on the first floor and a grand dining room upstairs. Big groups eating tapas NEED space- I respect Cafe Iberico for accommodating this!

    On a Tuesday night I find myself and a close friend rubbing elbows with some wealthy folks from the steel industry. We each ordered one hot, one cold and one dessert- commence salivating!

    TAPAS HIGHLIGHTS
    *Queso de Cabra is definitely a dish that was I was destined to eat.
    *Patatas Bravas were excelente- the spicier the better!
    *el Pulpo y Calamares a la plancha are succulent octopus & squid that kept my mouth busy in the best way possible.
    DESSERT HIGHLIGHTS
    *Peras al Vino - delectable pears in red wine w/ ice cream
    *Platano al Carmelo - sauteed banana, carmel & ice cream - can't go wrong with that equation!

    The service was fast and friendly, our server was very kind to laugh at our dining companions jokes.

    !!!!!!!CAFE IBERICO ES EL GANADOR!!!!!!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/8/2010

    I've been here many times. They recently expanded the north dinning room--although I prefer to be in bar tables because it feels more like real tapas.  Every time (mother's day, dates, just lunch with friends, etc) I've been generally pleased with their paella and tortilla.  I would not suggest their patatas bravas.

    Decent atmosphere as well.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/12/2010

    This place came highly recommended, but I was thoroughly disappointed each step of the way. There were some random situations like a waiter breaking a bottle of balsamic vinaigrette on my friend, but I did not mind that until I realized that the manager had no clue what had happened. She eventually walked over and apologized and remedied our check but... I just was not impressed.

    We ordered a couple of vegetarian dishes - felt like going veg that day - and man did I regret it. I felt like I was just eating bread. Plus two of the dishes were exactly the same. One had eggplant and the other did not. But they were the exact same dish - I wish our waiter had said something.

    All in all, I really don't think I'll be going back... way too many other tapas options in Chicago for me to try again with this one...

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/11/2010

    Cafe Iberico makes outstanding tapas. I think overall the tapas here are the best. The prices here are also very reasonable.

    However, the restaurant is always packed with people, they don't take reservations on Friday/Saturday nights (read: 1-2 hour wait) and the service is highly variable.

    For a better experience overall I would recommend going during the week when it is less crazy--makes for a more relaxed dining experience.  We went there with a group of people (about 10) on a Thursday night to celebrate a family birthday and it was a good experience for everyone. The restaurant wasn't so loud that we couldn't hear each other (which sometimes happens on Friday/Saturday).

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/31/2010

    Hurrah for cheap tapas!  The 40 minute wait was well worth it, especially since we spent the last 15 minutes sipping Sangria at the bar ($16 pitchers?? heck yeah).  They have pitchers of Sangria sitting on ice, waiting to be ordered.

    The two of us had the mussels, stuffed mushrooms, mixed seafood salad (served cold), and the lamb shank.  Every dish was delicious, and they came out one after the other so that we essentially ate nonstop for about 45 minutes.  The inside is crowded, but the atmosphere is very festive.  It would be fun to come here with a larger party of 5-6 people, and they certainly have the space to accomodate large groups.  

    The best part was the price.  Our dishes averaged $8-12 each, and the total bill was under $60.  We skipped dessert, but from other reviews I believe that the dessert selection here is quite good.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/14/2009

    My opinion of Cafe Iberico is so incredibly mixed.

    The hostessing procedure or whatever it is they do needs some work. We could have stood in the front for hours without being acknowledged. I eventually waved someone down.

    The place is ridiculously loud. I  was there on a Wednesday. It wasn't crowded, and still, I could barely hear my table mates. Tile on the walls. Till on the floors. The place does not have the acoustics for a nice relaxing meal. Really, hang some curtains, or carpet, or big fuzzy sweaters. Something!

    The bathrooms were surprisingly gross. I don't expect scented soap and a back massage, but cleanliness? Yes.

    On the other hand, the good one, the food was really great. I really loved the goat cheese one that other reviewers have also mentioned. The Sangria was pretty good too. Prices were also better then some of the other local tapas places. We even splurged on dessert!

    Our waiter was stellar. He was so attentive. We never wanted for anything and were so well taken care of.

    I guess overall, Cafe Iberico was a win for me. Despite its shortcomings, what I really come for is the food. And the food by itself was worth at least 4 stars.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    8/26/2009

    I took a rock-collecting class in 2nd grade and I still remember taking my first lick of a salt rock -- I was in love.  Helps explain why despite the long waits, noisy crowds, and tables piled on top of one another, I just can't help coming back to Iberico.  Nothing here is bland.  Just order a couple pitchers of sangria and everything will be alright.

    We usually order the queso de cabra, a couple cold dishes, a couple hot ones (patatas bravas, pulpo a la plancha), and one of the paellas.  Dishes are decent-sized for a tapas joint and even if you get trashed on the sangria and go on an ordering spree you won't wake up totally broke.  Check this place out.

    There you go, now you can skip the 600 other reviews...

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/29/2010

    The tapas was okay, it wasn't the best.  It's VERY GOOD but it's just not the best.  

    This place gets 4 stars instead of 5 because of the WAIT... they don't accept reservations on Friday and I had to wait an hour for a table.  That was not cool for me.  They do take reservations most days so call ahead!

    Almost everyone will rave about the tapas but the best item is the PAELLA... OMG IT IS UNBELIEVABLE!  IT IS SOOOO GOOOOOOD!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/19/2012

    I've only been here once, late a night, to have a few drinks and some dishes to share with my buddy.

    It was good and I've been looking to go back with friends to have some tapas.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/5/2010

    I've been going here since about 1999, I don't know why I hadn't reviewed them earlier.  By far the best service, food and so on and so on.  

    They are great with kids and I absolutely love brunch, lunch and early dinner with the kids there.  It's a mad house late at night but that's a different crowd.

    The service has improved grately and I love that the host desk is at the front of the door now.

    They have a new restaurant upstairs that I haven't tried but hope to soon.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/28/2011

    Pros: cheap eats, good ambience
    Cons: parking kinda sucks unless you valet,  inconsistency with food

    I've been coming here for years. I've had octopus, rabbit, veal just to name a few dishes. The paella is pretty good but could use bigger mussels and shrimp that isn't over cooked. My pet peeve is that when I order the same thing I got before, it doesn't taste the same as I had it before. I don't know If they know that the reason people come back to their restaurant is consistency. It doesn't happen all the time but it does happen and has happened to me a handful of times. I have returned the food and only to get the same result. I'm still going to give them four stars because out of 5 to 6 different dishes only one of them suck. Hey I can live with that. If you come here try the scallop dish. It's damn good. The filet served with potatoes and two asparagus spears is so good that when you see your check, the flavor of the steak that is inside your stomach turns from good to F'ing amazing.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/11/2007
    Listed in Good for Groups

    This is a great place to take a large group during the week.  Avoid this place on Friday and Saturday, unless you don't mind the hour plus wait.  The wait isn't  too bad if you like to drink and people watch.  

    Good food, location, value, service; but you go for the ambiance.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/31/2007

    I try to eat here once a month.  I've only tried Iberico, Emilio's, and Baba Reeba, and this is my fave.  Iberico is the cheapest out of the 3 with the largest portions.  We usually spend ~$20/pp.  And everything I've tried (cold/hot tapas, desserts, sangria) in the 10 times I've been here have been great.  However, try to make reservations for Iberico on weekends.  I've come here near 10 PM once, and the hostess claimed the wait was another 2 hours!

    Here is a very biased comparison of the three:

    Iberico vs. Emilio's (on Fullerton/Clark in LP):
    - Emilio's seems to have the most "interesting" (could be because it's more authentic?) dishes
    - Atmosphere at Emilio's is more intimate, fancier, and less noisy/crowded feeling
    - Parking is possible in front of the Emilio's in LP

    Iberico vs. Reeba:
    - Reeba's prices are way high for such small portions
    - Atmospheres at both are similar: lively (noisy), not overly dim, have sections that seat large parties
    - Waiters/waitresses are much friendlier, more patient, and more willing to help pick out dishes at Iberico
    - Street parking difficult in both areas

    I've liked everything I've eaten at Iberico.  I'll spare you the bad Spanish spellings, so I'll describe them in English: toasted bread with smoked salmon, capers, and dill cream; cold seafood salad (almost like ceviche); spicy cubed potatoes; grilled octopus with French fries; steamed mussels in tomato broth; roasted chicken with Spanish mashed potatoes & asparagus; seafood & pork paella (Order first!  It takes the longest to make.); ice cream filled crepe with strawberry sauce; and the red sangria!  ALL SO VERY GOOD & CHEAP!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/17/2010

    I'll keep it quick. Food is good. A bit salty. Other times a bit flat, but most often it is good. But the food is second fiddle to the atmosphere. You'll like coming here with friends and socializing. Sit back and have some laughs while drinking sangria.

    My only beef is the amount of televisions. I wish they would turn them off.  Cafe Iberico does not need televisions, unless they are replaying a Depor vs Sevilla match.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/13/2009

    2 freaking degrees... that is not a temperature! Why do people live here in the winter. 70 back home in San Jose.
    Cafe Iberico may be one reason ... but then again
    The place is lively and service is prompt... but dining for one is a foreign concept.
    The ensalada mixta is delicious. I followed with the raxo adobado and gambas ajillo. The pork was dry and tough but the frys with brown gravy had Salt House potential. The shrimp were tasty but the entire meal was just ok.
    I washed it all down with a 1/2 pitcher of white sangria. Tasty
    This place is good but not up to the San Francisco standards I am used to.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/25/2009

    This is a short review, especially since this place has been so extensively reviewed by others.

    3 stars, not because of the quality of the food (which was delicious - especially the queso de cabra [baked goat cheese in tomato-basil sauce] & calarmares a la plancha. Sangria was good but not amazing.) but because of the service.

    Sorry, but when you forget our table exists to the point that when you come by, I have to point out that our second round of orders never appeared (notice all the empty plates & mostly-empty bread baskets?) then you drop a star, no matter how tasty your food is. Also, when you look at your notepad, blanch, walk away, come back and say "the kitchen lost your ticket", it's kind of hard to believe.

    Otherwise, an a-ok tapas place.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/9/2009

    Came here with about 10 friends for my birthday this year and it was amazing. I'm a huge fan of tapas in general, and Cafe Iberico does them right.
    Everything we ordered was good but the one thing that stood out was the paella. We ordered one of each types of paella and they were gone instantly.

    And as with any tapas place, it's always more fun & tasty to come with a big group and try.. everything.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/22/2010

    Cafe Iberico was one of the first restaurants I visited when I first moved to Chicago 4 years ago- and ever since its held a special place in my heart. I try not to go too often for the sheer fact that I want to keep my visits special, but I still make a trip every couple of months or so...

    It's all in the presentation....  The atmosphere is very simple and you will feel like you're sitting in a Spanish cafe drinking sangria amongst your closet friends.  The tile on the floor (and some tables) looks as if it were old Spanish tile with bright eccentric colors that will make your eyes wander through the designs.  The wooden ceiling in the north dining room drips with Spanish charm, while the old fashioned deli just up a few steps makes your nose become excited with the aroma of various meats and cheeses.  The staff is very attentive and you will rarely, if ever have to ask for your water to be refilled and table to be cleared for the new appetizer-style plates to arrive.  

    For the main event... The restaurant offers a great variety of Tapas food that couldn't express the Spanish-food-culture more.  The small plates are great to pass around and make it very convenient for everyone to sample.  Although I've tried almost everything the menu has to offer I do have a few favorites that I will order every time I step foot in the establishment (they are listed below).
    * Tortilla Espanola - Vegetarian Spanish omelet
    * Jamon Iberico - Spanish style cured ham with manchego cheese and tomato bread
    *Patatas Bravas - Spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce.
    *Pincho De Pollo - Chicken brochette with caramelized onions and rice.
    *Gambas Al Ajillo - Grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine.
    *Mejillones A La Marinera - Steamed mussels with marinara sauce.
    *Filloa De Helado Y Crema  - Stuffed crepe with ice cream topped with whipped cream and strawberry sauce.

    With all of the positivity being sung, I only have one itty bitty complaint- and that is the size of the tables.  The tables are pretty small if it's a table of 2-4; and with all of the delicious food that is ordered it's sometimes hard to find room for it all.  I understand that they are trying to save space and have room for smaller parties of people (2-3), but they need to big a smidge larger to fit everything comfortably (without glasses clinking and plates overlapping one another).

    If you are looking for a great first date place, friend/family/group dinner, casual night out with the girls (or guys) or even a place to take clients, Cafe Iberico is the perfect place for all of the above.  Salud!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/6/2009

    solid food -
    tasty sangria (but the only fruit in my pitchers were lemons...where's my apples!)
    tapas were all delicious - went with a huge group and sampled a lot but some of my faves were the grilled calamari, potatoes, goat cheese marinara type bread, deliciously moist chicken and the paella!  bananas foster-esque dessert was delish!
    i ordered mussels marinara but the waitress brought me mushrooms - i said something but she told me i was wrong and that i definitely ordered mushrooms, minus one for telling me i'm wrong and still charging us for mushrooms and never bringing the mussels!

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/6/2012

    It was ok. I've had much better tapas for the same price. The best part was the side dish's (rice, potatos, etc.). They had good spices, very flavorful but not to spicy. However, all of the meats were flavorless.. like they hadn't been seasoned at all, which in my mind was the most important part of the meal. The atmosphere was ok, more like a bar than a restaurant. It was very loud and we were crammed into a tiny table with low lighting. On a side note the sangria was good.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/6/2009

    Let's just start off by saying that the service here is totally hit or miss and 99% of the time, the service just plain sucks. Now having gotten that out of the way, the tapas are the reason I keep going back, I would give the tapas 4 stars. For the reviewer below who said the portions are small---HELLO!?!?---do you not understand the concept of tapas? they're supposed to be small portions, and actually I think the portions are more generous than other tapas places. Sangria is a-ok, but most of the tapas I've tried are very good. This place is always crowded and loud and they don't take reservations, expect a 30-40 minute wait unless you go early or late. Concept is simple here--cheap and good food.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/27/2009

    Croquetas, mushrooms, grilled squid, and ROASTED CHICKEN....

    I had eaten at this establishment exactly one year ago for a birthday celebration and lo and behold I also had a birthday lunch here again.

    I enjoyed the place the first time I went here and that opinion has not changed at all.

    The hot tapas and cold tapas were all sized generously and most of all the size of the entrees was enough for me and my aunt ( who has treated me to lunch!) to split and be full, but not uncomfortably full.

    We ordered 3 tapas and an entree and it came out to be about 20 dollars a person!  Not bad at all!

    I left feeling happy!

    I would definitely return!

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/31/2011

    The pulpo a la plancha was pretty appetizing. All of the other selections were just mediocre. This is a typical tapas restaurant. The place can get pretty packed that it just gets uncomfortable eating there. We were actually seated by the bar right by the walkway. The floor and table would shake as people constantly walked by. It was a table for two...we were not able to fit all our orders on the small round table we had. I think their secret ingredient to everything was salt. Overall, the restaurant wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/13/2012
    1 check-in

    Didn't think it was very impressive

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/22/2009

    Well the sangria was average, a few of the tapas were pretty good, recalling a homestyle Spanish influence, but not nearly a good as I was hoping. Our waitress recommended the vegetarian empanadas, saying it was her favorite on the entire menu.

    Did this girl burn off all her taste buds in a tragic event? Or maybe she said, 'Don't try these, these are awful!" And it was my fault for misunderstanding her??? No, that was not the case; she recommended the one thing on the menu that looked and tasted like someone had dumpster-dived for it. I might have requested the item be taken off the bill, but we were full, a little disappointed in the service, and in the middle of planning our route home to include gelato. We did, however, let her know that it was our least favorite of the house. She looked apologetic, and my mom is not a sympathetic person - the one thing I really love about her sometimes, she will not spare your feelings for a confused, pathetic look on your face. And then I said to the waitress, "maybe being vegetarian means you're  missing out on food that actually tastes good."

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/30/2011
    1 check-in

    Went here for my birthday a week ago and wanted to experience another tapas place after eating at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba several years back.  Atmosphere wise Iberico is a great place to take friends and family for drinks and small plates.  Yet, I still can't find that one tapas dish that would make me crave tapas like I have with other culinary genres.  My lack of passion toward tapas would normally hinder my review, but Cafe Iberico succeeded in providing great tasting meat, vegetable and seafood flavors in their small dishes compared to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba. Service was comforting and and the red sangria was the perfect mix of strong and sweet.  Even though I may not be a big tapas fan (yet) I can see why people come here on nice summer days to entertain and have good conversation.  So while I consider Cafe Ba Ba Reeba a 3 star establishment, Cafe Iberico while not perfect is still a far superior place and would try again.

    Must Have:
    - JAMON IBERICO
    - PATATAS BRAVAS
    - PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/14/2009

    I arrived here with some friends on a Saturday night and only had to wait a few minutes before getting a table in the back room. The atmosphere consisted of a packed, energetic crowd with almost everyone engaged in very loud conversations. So my group definitely had to speak louder than usual to hear each other. This was the main reason why I decided to give this place 4 stars instead of 5.

    The service was excellent as our waitress was very friendly, attentive, and efficient in bringing our dishes and drinks. Great smile with an excellent attitude.

    As we waited for our food, I ordered the Sangria which I heard many friends rave about. I was impressed with it as it had a great balance of fruity flavors and aromas that matched well the red wine in the Sangria. Very tasty and delicious. Not the best Sangria I ever ordered, but definitely in my top 5.

    For dinner, we ordered the TOSTADAS DE PISTO tapas and the QUESO DE CABRA tapas. The Tostadas De Pisto was toasted bread topped with stewed eggplant, peppers, onion, Zucchini tomato and olive oil. The eggplant had amazing texture and was cooked to perfection, and the peppers and onions added a great kick to the dish. The Zucchini tomato (I never knew there was a Zucchini tomato!) was delicious, and the olive oil which was drizzled on top added a light, fruity flavor to the dish. Overall, I was very satisfied with these tapas.

    The other tapas we ordered was the Queso De Cabra which is simply baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce. The goat cheese was a little undercooked for my preference, but the taste was fantastic... very rich and creamy without being too salty. The sauce was so fresh and good. You could tell the sauce was homemade. The combination of the sauce with the cheese was a winner. Definitely a delicious but light tapas meal.

    Overall, my experience here was great. The entire order cost us less than $30 so very reasonable for the quality of the food and Sangria. My only disappointment was that we weren't hungry enough to order a couple more tapas dishes. I definitely plan on coming back here in the near future with an empty stomach so I could indulge in more of the tapas!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/21/2009

    Great late night spot. Not for solo dining, couples or better yet, groups only. Expect a long wait to be seated, typically 45min-1hr. However, several bars are always open for drinks while you wait. Best sangria I've had anywhere and lots of interesting dishes to share for an impossibly reasonable price.

    Pinxtos is a new spot that Cafe Iberico opened upstairs. Slightly different concept with the same great result. I'd recommend it as an alternative to anyone who doesn't want to wait for a seat downstairs.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/13/2009
    Listed in Chicago

    On my first night in Chicago, about a week ago, me and the girlfriend went to Café Iberico. We got there and the place was pretty crowded for a Thursday night. They sat us in the back room and the waiter came over to take our drink orders.

    Before we even got the drink they came over and asked us if we would mind switching one table over. Of course we didn't mind, but I am still unsure why we needed to. They switched us between a 2 person table and a 2 person table, so that couldn't be why. About 3 minutes later another 2 person group was sat down, which seemed very odd.

    The waiter was extremely nice, and ever gave us a Spanish lesson after we mispronounced our order. The sangria we ordered was delicious, and break we had was delicious as well.

    As our main dish me and the girlfriend split three things, we got a bread dish that came with a pesto type sauce, cheese and some red sauce. Additionally we split 2 different fish dishes. All of the food was very delicious; however I thought the portions were a bit small. The mashed potatoes also came with some greens in it that wasn't listed in the menu, which was a bit disappointing. We both definitely enjoyed ourselves and the prices were very reasonable as well.

    My only major complaint about the place was the noise level. I am not sure why, but it was incredibly loud in there, even in the dining room area, not just the bar side. At times it was even hard to hear my girlfriend over the noise. Overall though, it definitely was a great expierence.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/19/2009

    Cafe Iberico serves the best Spanish tapas in Chicago. The flavors are all authentic and the menu has enough options to keep even the pickiest of eaters happy. Personal favorite menu items include the queso de cabra (baked goat cheese), tortilla espanola (spanish omelet with onion and potato), patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), and the calamares a la plancha (grilled calamari). In addition to the delicious food, their sangria is really good and priced very reasonably. I like the red best, but the white sangria is also quite good. Iberico is a great spot for group dinners as shared food creates a much more interactive experience than a typical restaurant.

    Only four stars for two reasons. First, they don't take reservations on weekends which makes it a weeknight only destination. Secondly, the food is very rich and my experience has been that the dinner party tends to break up when the first member of the party starts to feel sick to their stomach.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/13/2010

    Quite good i say!  The muscles, clams, and goat cheese are not to be missed!!  I really like the environment and decor - it is very reminiscent of a spanish/european restaurant.. well, except that its huge in comparison.  the sangria was great!  it inspired me to go home and make some of my own (which of course doesn't compare but was fun nonetheless).  one of my favorite things about the menu was the pictures.  i thought it was really helpful to remember certain things i'd had before and forgotten the names and to entice me to try new things.  

    things i'd skip next time around:
    octopus- very light on any flavor and just kinda felt like chewy rubber
    potatas bravas - well, ok, i probably wouldnt skip it but of all the potatas bravas ive had at tapas restaurants, this was my least favorite.  hands down.  which is sad cuz i love it so much but i guess just leaves more room for me to try other things there!  i'm sure i'll have no trouble picking other things out!

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/22/2009

    Trying to figure out whether to go to Cafe Iberico or Cafe Ba Ba Reeba?!  Well...if you want better food, go to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba.  This restaurant has about the same prices as Ba Ba Reeba, the service is about the same, and parking is a pain at both places.

    Some highlights to point out is that their potato tapas are very good and their paellas are quite tasty too, so if you're in the area and don't want to make the trek to Halsted, stop on by. On the weekends, you'll find yourself waiting close to an hour for a table though, just fyi.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/6/2009
    1 check-in

    Lots of vegetarian tapas options. We had some spicy potato thing...YUM you have to try it.

    There is only one vegetarian paella available and its...eh. I've had better paella.

    Its a fun atmosphere, very loud though. I love the way its decorated. Lots of different kinds of people, seems to be very gay friendly, too.

    I had a caipirinha and it was delicious! They have a fun drink menu with lots of different types of mojitos.

    I just wish I saved room for dessert!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/11/2011

    What can I say?!?! I love the Sangria. The tapas are good not great. The ambience is ok, sometimes overbearing. But the Seafood Paella.... To die for!!! Absolutely magical...

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/29/2012
    1 check-in

    Ate here for dinner late on a weekday evening. Was a bit crowded and table space was sparse for a tapas place. I agree with some reviewers in that some of the food was a bit bland. The Jamon, manchego, and pan con tomate plate was great. So was the chicken empanada. The dates were ok, but the rice they came with wasn't very good. The tortilla espanola was average...decent flavor, but a little bland, and refrigerated (definitely prefer it room temperature or warm). We got the vegetarian paella and it wasn't that good--very bland with minimal saffron. On the plus side, the portion sizes were good and prices ok in the 7-12$ range. The small 12 paella was fairly decent sized. Overall, 3 stars for a couple of good plates, a couple of mediocre plates, and decent portions for the price.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/27/2010

    Excellent! And I like it here because their dishes are much more traditional Spanish tapas than any other tapas restaurant in Chicago. (If you know of another please fill me in :)

    It can be hard to get a table during the busy evening hours, but always worth a wait. Also a nice place for a long lunch over sangria and delicious dishes!

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/17/2011

    i was long overdue for a revisit to cafe iberico - i hadn't been in YEARS - so me and the bf decided to stop in for a weekday night dinner date.

    after being seated, the waitress (nicely) pressed us to order a few times within the first 5-10 minutes. it felt like she was rushing us, although i'm sure that was not her intention.

    generally speaking, i don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. personally, i think the hot tapas are more appealing. & not only is the food reliable & tasty, it's cheap! just about all of the tapas are under $10.

    we ordered:
    - sauteed mushrooms: arrived room temperature, smooth with a little kick
    - pork loin: we thought the pork would be marinated & tender, but instead it was flat, crispy & a little on the dry side. taste was still there, but it wasn't quite what we were expecting
    - goat cheese with marinara: delicious as expected; i'm not sure how could anyone mess this dish up
    - ham & cheese croquetas: a small portion, but our favorite; the dipping sauce (an aioli) was the cherry on top
    - 1/2 picture of red sangria: strong & hit the spot

    so, what makes me give iberico three stars? in one word: the service. the staff is overly attentive. and by overly attentive, i mean they will take your drinks & food before you are finished with them. (major pet peeve.) both our waitress and what seemed to be 50 bus boys were constantly assaulting our table, taking things away without asking if we were done first. they were like snipers, removing an object & vanishing before you could utter a sound.

    after what appeared to be a "floor manager" saw my face when my glass of sangria with a few sips left in it was taken from me, he went & got me a brand new glass & explained to me that he trains his staff to remove things quickly in order to keep the tables clean - by nature, tapas creates a lot cluttter with all of the small plates & dishes. i get it - but could ya ask first? all of the activity at the table put us on edge - by the end, we were practically clutching onto our bread basket & the remainder of the goat cheese to forbid anyone from taking it. and that is NOT my idea of a relaxing date night. thanks for the glass of sangria though.

    so, iberico is tasty & cheap - but you might have to eat like you're in prison to finish any of what you order.

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/3/2009

    Nothing special, went there a couple of times and thought BaBaReeba, 1492 and Emilio's were better.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/30/2009

    WOW...... YUM....... MY MOUTH DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE!!!

    This is the best TAPAS I have had outside of Espana! The wait was the only turn off but boy was it worth it.

    This will be a regular spot for me! I could eat it 3 meals a day and snacks in between! I have had Tapas in Spain , and not to knock other Chicago Tapa establishments I haven't tried, but after eating here I am in love!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/6/2011

    I recently went to lunch and some cocktails with a friend that decided this was where to go... She wasn't wrong. Some of the best spanish food I've had in a while. The sangria was to die for and inexspencive! The atmosphere was delightful, very authentic. The service was lacking but easily forgiven after a cocktail.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/1/2009

    okay people. WHITE SANGRIA. i never knew it existed until my friend took me here specifically for the reason to have me try it. and once there i realized pretty much NO ONE knows about it because everyone else around us was drinking the "normal" shit (i.e. red sangria). so once again people, ORDER THE WHITE SANGRIA!!!

    along side this delectable drink we ordered the queso de cabra (baked goat cheese...yes you should be drooling), which was more than amazing. my friend also brought me here to try the vegetarian paella, which is the main reason for the missing star because it was wayyyyyy too salty. (my friend wants to add this saltiness is out of the ordinary so it may have been a unintentional error on the part of the busy chef.)  the flavor of the paella, however masked by the saltiness, was still fantastic.

    for those of you who care about this sort of thing, we did have to wait about 20 minutes for a table for 2.

    atmosphere was cozy and hip, one of the best combinations.

    WHITE SANGRIA!!

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/8/2009

    I really though this place was just OK.  I think it could possibly be because I went with a large group of 10 people.

    We were all there at 7:30PM and the hostess told us it would be 20 - 30 minutes, wait for our name to appear on the TV screen.  So we all huddled in the bar area and attempted to get drinks.  Again, 10 of us, crowded place.  Only a few went in for the kill.

    30 minutes later we are still waiting.  So, someone goes to check in with the hostess.  They had accidentally sat another group ahead of us.  It's going to be another 20 - 30 minutes.  GREAT.  Most of us are hungry and drinkless.  No apology from the staff.

    45 minutes later we are seated.. at a table for 9!  They proceed to tell us we can't put a chair at the end of the table because it blocks the isle.  Makes sense, but we told them 10 people.  So, 2 girls end up SHARING a seat.  

    Waitress brought menus, helped her other tables for about 15 minutes, then finally came back for our drink order.  FINALLY!  A beverage.

    I won't go on and on here.  Service was RIDICULOUS, but the food was great.  So 2 Stars for the Food.  We ended up being here until almost midnight.  We planned on all going for drinks after dinner, but everyone was too exhausted from this experience and just wanted to go home.

    I will have to update after I go back with a small group, or perhaps just 1 friend.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/21/2011

    The food is fine. I've had better. The service is pretty atrocious.

    We waited MUCH longer than the estimated time we were given, all the while watching people who came in after us get seated before us. The hostesses were incredibly rude, and kept shooing everybody away from the host stand into the overcrowded bar and away from a corner near the door because "it was an emergency exit route." Really? A corner?

    I felt like I was in a line for a ride at a theme park - lots of tourists, tons of rules (Don't touch that table! Get away from there! Watch for your name on the TV! Just a few more minutes!)

    When we were finally seated, we had to remind our waitress to bring our sangria after our food arrived. Sangria tastes like Franzia sangria, food comes out super fast, which mades us feel a little rushed...but I was fine with it. I couldn't handle being in the Cafe Iberico machine any longer.

    Also, way too many TVs. Jeez.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/7/2010

    I went here for the first time last night and it was good time.  Our first two tapas dishes came out in about 5 minutes, but the next two took about 20 minutes, which left a lot of time to drink the sangria.  At the end of the day I would go back but I think there are better tapas restaurants out there.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/13/2009

    I absolutely love cafe iberico...the food is always great..i had the:

    steak with caramelized onions --my favorite!
    mussels in marinara ---delicious
    octopus
    scallops...
    chicken balls...

    all of it was super delicious n i was stuffed..i went there with my boyfriend so we shared everything n we were BOTH stuffed. i thought it was very appropriately priced..came up to less than $60..and we had a cocktail each too.i really wanted dessert but it wouldve been painful to have another bite of anything in my belly lol.

    im coming back for dessert!

    as for the ambiance...it reminds me of a whole family eating at a long table in a vineyard sharing some delicious food.in other words: loud..but cozy and comfortable..

    i agree that the hostess could be a little more friendly, but i cant imagine trying to keep up with the crowd coz it gets pretty crowded and theres always a little wait.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/13/2012

    The food at this place is awesome. My two favorites were the gambas al ajillo and lomo de buey a la brasa..the sangria was ok..the white sangria is the better of the two ( I am not a big wine drinker)..The reason I only gave three star is because I came with a large party and all of our cards were charged then refunded and charged again with a different price, without the waiter notifying us. We didn't find out until the next morning when we checked our accounts. When I called to speak with the manager she was very short and seemed as if it wasn't a big deal (gross).

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    10/7/2008

    As soon as I step foot off the plane in Chicago, the first place my friends took me to was Cafe Iberico.  I still remember the savory food back then, but I was reminded again last weekend.  I believe in eating family style, and tapas are definitely better enjoyed when there are at least 3-4 people.  Here is a list of the items we ordered:

    Champinones a la Plancha - Grilled mushrooms with garlic and olive oil ($4.95)
    Salpicon de Mariscos - Mixed seafood salad with shrimp, octopus, and squid ($6.95)
    Queso de Cabra - Baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce ($6.95)
    Gambas al Ajillo - Grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine ($6.95)
    Pincho de Solomillo - Beef tenderloin skewer with fries and caramelized onions ($6.95)
    Patatas Bravas - Spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce ($4.95)
    Sopa de Fideos - Chicken noodle soup ($3.95)
    Mejillones a la Marinera - Steamed mussels with marinara sauce ($5.95)
    and of course... SANGRIA!

    The mushrooms were just button mushrooms, but the marinade is what made them.  I could eat the whole dish, seriously.  The seafood salad was like ceviche but cooked.  It was seasoned lightly with a mix of olive oil, lemon, salt, and pepper.  It went fast so we ordered 2.  The baked goat cheese was served with toasted bread and was average.  The grilled shrimp was garlicy and plump, but it did have a slight fishy taste.  My friend said she had a hard time chewing on the beef skewer, but it was ok for me.  The spicy potatoes were simply fried potato cubes sauteed in a tomato based sauce.  One of my friends said it wasn't to his liking because of the mild curry (or some other spice) flavor.  Chicken noodle soup was more like noodle chicken stew.  The noodles were soggy and there wasn't any broth.  I won't be ordering that again.  In my opinion, the mussels are the best deal.  Fresh and plump, they were cooked in a tomato broth.  It was excellent for dipping in the left over bread and sopping up the remaining stock.  Yum!

    Their sangria is pretty good too.  Often times I encounter sangria that is a) too watery or b) too harsh (possibly unripe fruit or cheap wine?).  But it had a nice balance of sweetness and tartness that made it refreshing and easy to drink... while looking at the cute waiters :oD

    The service was friendly and quick.  They included gratuity for our party of 6.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/19/2009

    If you know what to expect, Cafe Iberico is a great place for a casual dinner.  Things to expect: reasonably priced, fairly authentic tapas; cheap sangria, and decent service.  Things NOT to expect: lightning quick service, a quiet atmosphere or perfect flavors.  

    Cafe Iberico is great for a date and also great for large groups.  Either way, you're not going to spend over 40 dollars unless you have the appetite of a horse.  I highly recommend it for groups.  Be sure to order pitcher/s of sangria.  It is tasty and cheap!

    My biggest complaint is that they do not take reservations.  However, this is not usually too big of a problem because the restaurant is absolutely enormous.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/12/2009

    went last night and shared a 1/2 pitcher of white sangria $7.95 with my former roommate along with the:

    PATATAS BRAVAS $5.50 Spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce.

    PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO $7.50 Beef tenderloin skewer with fries and caramelized onions.

    RAXO ADOBADO $6.50 Marinated pork loin served with home-made fries.

    the sangria was cold and strong.  the food was hot and tasty.  perfect portion sizes to share with a friend.

    after tax and tip $18 per person.  a great deal that made up for the loud, crowded environment.  a solid experience - i would go back.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/7/2012

    I was here for the first time with my best friend, Friday night it was busy but did not have to wait too long. We had a Queso de cabra in hot tomato sauce, Salpicon de mariscos (seafood ceviche), Jamon Iberico with manchego cheese and my friend got Salmon with artichokes, to drink we got half pitcher of White Sangria. All that for less than 70.00. We liked the place, yes very loud, food was great, little over price for the kind of service, but overall a good place.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/4/2010

    I really love to go to Cafe Iberico.  I was introduced to this place through friends at work, and I come here whenever I can to get a taste of really good Spanish tapas.  The environment is fun, and usually loud when I'm there, because everyone is laughing, and talking over the background music.  It's a really fun date night place because its so inviting, and laid back.  I love the sangria, try the red and white, both are really good.

    I pass on the cold tapas, and Paella, because it doesn't really appeal to me, but others really like them.

    Here are my favorites that I order:
    PATATAS BRAVAS
    QUESO DE CABRA
    CROQUETAS DE POLLO
    GAMBAS AL AJILLO
    RAXO ADOBADO

    Dessert:
    PLATANO AL CARAMELO
    FLAN DE CARAMELO

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/12/2009

    I love coming to Cafe Iberico for a casual night out that doesn't break the bank.  The ambiance is quite noisy so isn't the best for a romantic date.  It is best for a night out with friends.  A lot of times my friends and I end up eating in the intial seating area by the bar or at the bar itself instead of in the formal dining areas because there isn't nearly the wait. Plus you can usually see some fun Spanish videos playing on the TVs.

    I haven't had an item on the menu that isn't fresh and delicious.  The goat cheese is always a favorite for a large item to share.  For dinner menu items, the lamb shank is excquisite!  Done to perfection.  Paella is wonderful but a very large portion, more than enough for several people to share.  The sangria is a bit sweet to my taste but goes well with the spicier items on the menu and is good on a warm summer evening.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/11/2010
    4 check-ins

    Great tapas with great portions for the price! Que bueno!

    I haven't had the sangria in a while but I (sorta) remember it being awesome. It was back in the day when my tolerance for alcohol was close to non-existent and I kept drinking the red stuff. I'd finished my cup by popping the wine soaked fruit bits as I waited for the next dish to arrive.
    I went in recently and had:
    ENSALADA MIXTA--Spanish style mixed salad with asparagus, beets, hearts of palm, endive. The beets were sweet, endive was bitter and asparagus was... MIA. It won't be missed.
    PULPO A LA PLANCHA--Grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil. OMG, OMG. Soft, Succulent octopus is done so right, so different from how Koreans eat their octopus (jaw numbingly rubbery and chewy) and so wrong. :-(
    VIEIRAS A LA PLANCHA--Grilled sea scallops with saffron sauce. This was served with lemon wedges, on top of rice with cream sauce that brought out the freshness while adding to the original creaminess of the scallop.

    ***These were better than the food I had in Spain!

    I originally went to have my usual:
    PATATAS BRAVAS--Spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce
    and GAMBAS AL AJILLO-- Grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine. Both are cooked right, nothing is overdone or undercooked. Both goes so well with bread (mmmm bread).

    Service was attentive and not at all pretentious compared to other tapas restaurants.

    I'm gonna "hop" on over there today to try their rabbit (which was on their special menu)~ Ai, me encanta tapas.

    Oh! Don't forget the flan!

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/3/2013

    My friend and I went to this restaurant when we were in Chicago.  It was her first experience with Spanish food.  Being an early dinner, the place was very quiet, but it was not long until the noise level rose as the place began to fill.  The nose level never got to loud.  We ordered paella and appetizers, all of which were very good.  We also had some Cava.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/11/2009

    I ate here about a week ago with four other people. With the first two dishes that came out, I exclaimed, "I love this place, this is so good!" Then, with the next 5, I thought, eehhh. It's just ok. And it seemed like a lot of things were served with french fries piled on top. Hm.

    Get the goat cheese, and there was a salmon dish that had grilled asparagus and potatoes with it that was good. The chicken skewer was decent, but a little tough.

    Skip out on the smoked salmon, octopus, beef, and spicy potatoes.

    I think Cafe Ba Ba Reeba is better.

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/7/2009

    Went here once last year after a book discussion with a group of friends from the audience.  I found the tapas to be passable but quite lackluster.  They had trouble getting the concept that someone might have problems using stairs, so it took us forever to convince them that we had to be seated on the main floor, *not* downstairs, and I didn't appreciate not being able to use a bathroom until late in the meal someone suddenly remembered there was a small first floor lavatory.  Couldn't hear the large group as the tile bounced sound everywhere and there were a lot of drunk raucous people around.

    Overall only good because of the company, in spite of the restaurant (they detracted from the experience in so many ways).  I feel no reason to ever return.

    Would have been disappointing if I had held any expectations of quality - or even adequacy.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/16/2009
    Listed in Tapas

    I am not a huge fan of Tapas, but from I've experienced before and after this restaurant, Cafe Iberico does it well. It's a very cozy and warm feeling restaurant, I also think that works well with the Spanish theme. I would recommend this place if you are a huge fan of Tapas!

    Did I mention this is a great place to hang out on a date (for you young and ambitious lady's and gents)

    Wikipedia: Tapas is the name of a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as puntillitas, which are battered, fried baby squid).

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/1/2010

    I visited Chicago this weekend for the first time and was told I had to have dinner at Cafe Iberico.  I'm glad I listened!  The atmosphere is great, but if you don't like crowds, you should probably stay away.  We got there early enough that we didn't have to wait, but by the time we were seated, there was a line.

    We ordered the baked goat cheese in tomato sauce (fantastic!!), olives, garlic shrimp w/ wine (SO good), the sausage plate, a salad with artichokes and peppers and a beef skewer of some sort.  The only thing we did not like was the fries that came with the beef-everything else was superb and we ate until our bellies hurt.

    The service was good but a little slow-but I'm coming to learn this is just how tapas places are.  The sangria was a tiny bit watered down, but not at all bad and the prices were about what I'd expect to pay in Chicago.

    Overall a great place and I can't wait to go back on my next trip.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/31/2012

    It's been a while since I've been at Iberico, but it's a regular spot for my entire family, and I'm pretty familiar with the menu.

    Iberico is definitely one of Chicago's go to Tapas restaurants, but I'll be honest, I'm not sure why. The location is awesome, the ambiance is different, a little more hipster than anything, but the food is a little above average.

    The patatas bravas were drowning in sauce, which is usually a good thing for me as I love any dish with tons of flavor, but this one was lacking. The sauce lacked depth, and had kind of an overpowering chorizo and acidic tomatoey taste that I didn't care for. The queso de cabra was wonderful, I'll give them that. Goat cheese usually is spectacular at every Spanish tapas restaurant. The gambas al ajillo were good, but I've had better. Their sausage tapa with chorizo and blood sausage is one of the better dishes almost anywhere though. And as everyone else mentions, the Sangria is top notch, and I'm not really a Sangria or wine person.

    The paella from Iberico, definitely deserves it's little section though. I've had all types, and all are actually very delicious, with fresh ingredients, and perfectly cooked rice. I'm a big fan of the seafood paella, as they load it up with clams, octopus, squid, shrimp, and lobster if I'm not mistaken. The last time I was there, my brother was getting a little adventurous and decided to choose the Paella Negra which he's had before. It's basically paella with squid and maybe octopus, but it's hard to tell since they take the ink from the squid, and finish the dish off completely, hence the name 'negra'. It was good, aside from the presentation, the dish was just completely black, it was actually pretty tasty. The ink is very subtle and mild, and once you get over the thought of eating it and the color, it's a good change of pace from the usual.

    I really enjoy the flan here. It's perfectly made as they've been doing it for years, and the caramel sauce has a very nice distinct flavor.

    The service is unspectacular, but it's expected with the amount of traffic they receive on a daily basis. It is also pretty loud, so if you're looking for a more quiet or romantic dinner, I'd suggest a different place.

    I'm giving Iberico a 3/5, as it's a solid go-to Tapas location in the city, but definitely not the best. I would recommend making Cafe BaBaReeba your first stop at a Tapas location, and then go to Iberico and compare for yourself. I even enjoy the more obscure Emilio's Tapas out in Hillside versus Iberico.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/6/2011

    So good! Get the slow cooked ternero (lamb) and the patatas a la riojana. The ternero will make you cry, that good cry you've been needing to have lately. Both dishes are rich, so don't bother with anything but a red wine to cut it all down. I recommend one from Rioja, the cheapest being $6.00 a glass...wine + tears = love.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/10/2011

    Came here for the first time with a group of 9 people.  The Service was great, the ambiance was really nice, and the food and drinks excellent.  We ordered two pitchers of the Sangria, which was really good.  The choices on the menu are excellent, many to choose from.  One of my favorite dishes was the spicy potatoes.  Several people I came with also mentioned that was one of their favorites as well.  The food is flavorful and comes out pretty quickly after you have ordered it.  Good place to come to especially with a group.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/7/2011
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    Dammit, wish it were not thousands of miles away.  If I'm in Chicago, I WILL have it.  Only been there 3 times, excellent every time.  Great fun for a large group.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/4/2011

    Every time I crave spanish tapas, Cafe Iberico is the only place I want to dine at. They've spoiled me for the last 10 or more years of coming here. You can't beat the quality of food, the fast service, amazing sangria, and young and hip crowd. The only things to expect is waiting for a table in a large group but I promise you its worth the wait. Just buy a couple of pitchers of Sangria and you won't even noticed you've been waiting.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/7/2009

    I live a block away from this place and I really wanted to like it. I mean, who doesn't want a go-to tapas place for those lazy nights? Yeah, too bad I won't be back.

    The Iberico paella was underwhelming. Same goes for the garlic shrimp and the Mixta ensalada. The food was edible, just not spectacular, and when you're eating small to moderate portions of food (the nature of tapas)-- it really needs to be a little closer to amazing for my repeat business.

    Want tapas? Go to Twist in Lakeview or Tapas Barcelona in Evanston.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/31/2011

    Still my favorite place for tapas and sangria in the city.  Yes, it's loud, it will take a while to get a table, but it is worth it.  My favorites are always the queso de cabra and the pulpos.  Everything is fresh, comes out fast, and is delicious.  I'll come back again and again.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/25/2009

    Luckily, I was on a business trip with a co-worker who grew up in Chicago and she brought us to Cafe Iberico for a great dinner.  The sangria was delicious as was the tapas.  You must try the patatas ali-oli, yes it's basically potato salad, but it is so good!  Actually, I should qualify that.  If you are on a date you might want to avoid it because it is loaded with garlic.  :)  We had the grilled octopus...delicious...the steak on a stick with carmelized onions and fries...delicious...and some goat cheese and sauce with bread...also delicious.  

    We had a really great dinner (for a really great price, btw) and this will definitely be a stop the next time I am in town.

  • 1.0 star rating
    1/25/2012

    The Servers are horrible at Cafe Iberico you would think with a party of 10 we would have at least a  good server. We were placed in a small table and we asked to be moved to a larger table but the server gave us a hard time even thou we had just arrived. Then She took forever to get our drinks!

    After receiving our food everything was wrong on the order. She did not even remove the plates after we were done eating. I asked for a manager and the manager took forever and when she did arrive  she was in a bad mood basically told us she did not care.

    Only reason they are getting a one Star is the food was good. !

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/7/2010

    This place definitely depends on your tastes because apparently you just cant have it both ways.

    So the question is, can you excuse terrible service for good food?

    We arrived  on a Saturday at 830 already knowing we were gonna wait. They told us 35-40 minutes, so after working our way around the crowd, and upstairs to another bar within the restaurant, with a pitcher of sweet but weak sangria in hand, we waited...for an hour and a half.

    The 4 of us were finally seated at 9:55 at a table for 2 and real hungry. There was a table for 4 people that was open right next to us but they sat us down at the table for 2, needless to say for a tapas restaurant sitting four at a 2 had me pissed off. Anyhow the waiter came, basically was pretty inattentive, never told us about the specials, and ultimately was way too quick with our dishes, at one point i had to tell him slow it down cause clearly we had no room left on the table, but did they? No, matter of fact they sped it up, as if they wanted us outta there as quick as possible. We spent more time picking up and rearranging dishes then we did eating.

    Everything we ordered was good, the goat cheese was excellent, patatas fritas was very good, the PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO, was the highlight such tender meat, pollo a la brasas also very good, the salmon tasty and great sauces all around, the food and the price got this place UP to a 3 star rating. But at the end of the day its what can you do without more, good food or horrible service, and for me its horrible service, i might return during the week when it isnt so busy. But seriously we ordered like 12 dishes and were done by 10:55. I was not impressed. Total bill was astoundingly cheap, even with a pitcher of sangria, so that is another thing Iberico has going for it, again play it safe and go during the week, and expect less then friendly personable service from the time you walk in til you leave

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/21/2009

    (Hands up)- "Waiter, i have my order"
    Friend:"Where'd they go"
    "I don't know, are they gonna come back?"
    friend: "Wait, what did you say?"
    "I said, Are they gonna take our order"
    Friend: "What"
    "Forget it"

    That's what i felt my experience here at Cafe Iberico was. Don't get me wrong ladies and gentlemen. The food here is great. I had the hot tapas pollo (chicken with rice and cream sauce and the caramelized onions).. To die for, will go back strictly for that alone. And the scallops were pretty good as well. But the wait staff here is horrendous. And the fact that my friend next to me couldn't hear me was a bad sign altogether. The place was really packed together. Can i say pack rat!... And the decibels of this place seems like a rock concert. For me, i like to be able to talk to the company i'm keeping, instead of yelling at them. So i took away 2 stars because 1)loudness 2)service 3)layout of tables

    Food on the other hand, i would give a 4. As a said, the tapas i got was excellent. I also got the seafood paella and it was good but nothing extraordinary like people said.  My boyfriend got the lamb and it was really good. Like falling off the bone good.  So, boys and girls, i do recommend you go if you don't mind loud noises while your eating your delicious meal. And do try the tapas. They were awesome!

    ps. Something that also ticked me off was that, one of my friend's dishes came out 15-20 earlier than any of our dishes so he sat there picking at it (eating slowly) because he didn't feel like watching us eat our dishes later. I just don't think it's right to serve some dishes early and some dishes later.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/4/2010

    I LOVE Cafe Iberico!  It has become our go-to place - birthdays, someone visiting from out of town, or just an excuse to get a group of friends together.  It's a guaranteed fun place to go, where the food is consistently amazing, affordable, and the service is great.  

    You will have to wait to be seated on the weekends, so grab a glass of sangria to make the wait go by.  I recommend ordering some of your faves, but make sure you look at the specials and save room for dessert.

    Cafe Iberico can be a destination, or the place to start your night.  Come casual or dressed up, it makes no difference.  You wont find anything uptight or pretentious at Iberico -  just a fun place to have some great food with the people you love.

  • 1.0 star rating
    7/3/2010

    Unfortunately, I ended up at Cafe Iberico for the second time in my life.  I had hoped it would get better the second time around, but it actually got worse.

    The food is greasy and seems processed and not at all fresh.  The service is very slow.  All of the various tapas I tried disappointed me.  Even Cafe Marbella is better than this joint.  The paella is OK at best, meaning I was able to swallow my bites without gagging.

    Here's a tip: if you go there with a group of friends, tell the waiter you want to split the bill even before ordering (if you intend to do so).  They can't split it after taking the order.

    If the restaurant was not downtown, and did not hold itself out as being a top-quality "authentic" tapas place, I would have given it three stars.  But for the image (the owner parks his Rolls Royce in front for all to see), and the cost, including the cost of parking, it disappoints greatly.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/21/2012

    I was really impressed with the food and service. The restaurant was loud and everyone had a great time. I was surprised by the affordable prices. Good bang for your buck!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/20/2011

    For my first experience at a Tapas restaurant, I'd have to say I was pleased.  It wasn't amazing, but it was pretty darn good.  The spicy potatoes were fantastic, as was the baked goat cheese in tomato sauce.  I'd definitely recommend the house made sangria as well.  We also had the seafood paella, which left a little to be desired.  I've had better paella made by my white, anglo-saxon father.  The service was a little iffy as well.  While they did a good job of bringing out the courses in a timely manner, we had to ask for bread and oil ourselves and they weren't great about filling out water.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/5/2009

    Cafe Iberico has the atmosphere for conversation and good traditional tapas to go with their tasty sangria. If you're looking for a quiet meal where every dish comes out perfectly timed, this is not the place for you.

    I haven't had anything I didn't like here. My standbys are the Spanish tortilla, croqueta de pollo, grilled shrimp with garlic, pulpo a la plancha, and a pitcher of sangria.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/2/2010

    One word: DELICIOUS.

    I was here last night for a girl's night/birthday celebration. It was amazing. I was just at another tapas place last week, and their portions were tiny... Not here! There were 6 of us, and we each were able to get a good bit of each dish with more left over after the pass-around.

    Everything we ordered was delicious. I am in love with their Paella and Sangria. So amazing.  Each Tapas plate was amazing as well. I was nervous because we had one person in our party who is a really picky eater and had never been to tapas before, but I just ordered a bunch of dishes and she loved every one.

    The place itself is very nice. We went on a Thursday at 7:30 and it was PACKED, but luckily they do reservations for groups of 6 or more on weeknights. Also we have a group tradition of having Sweet Mandy B's cupcakes for birthdays, and they let us bring them into the restaurant. They even took them from me at the beginning and served them to us on a plate with lit candles when it was time for dessert. They told me they typically charge $1/person cut fee - but it didn't show up on the bill, and the waiter told me not to worry about it.  Love that.

    All in all we had a great night here. The staff was friendly and accomodating and the food was delicious. I think we'll have all our birthday dinners here from now on. :)

  • 1.0 star rating
    11/20/2011

    This was my second time there after an almost ten year hiatus. I figured I'd give it another try since my first experience was ok but couldn't remember the quality of the food. Since '02 I've had tapas at other places inside and outside the city, many of which are great places for dinner. This time around, I couldn't believe the wait time, since they won't take reservations. After an hour plus at the overcrowded bar drinking, at best, average sangria, we headed to our table. The place was packed like a sardine can or cattle car. I figured I order my favorite type of meats; chicken, beef & shrimp. The rest of my friends and family ordered a few more tapas.

    I have to say, the tapas did come out in portions and in good time. The quality of the food was good but the flavor of it is where I was greatly disappointed. The beef had minimal seasoning and was bland at best. Chicken wings was not far from the beef on taste an flavor. Grilled shrimp was good but digging it out of the shell like looking for gold was messy and killed my appetite. The potatoes in the spicy sauce were nothing more than baked potatoes in a Spanish ketchup. Not spicy at all. If you're looking for tapas in the city, there's other great spots where parking won't be an issue, wait time will be cut down and the sangria will be above average. The flat screens all over the place blasting Spanish pop tunes and Latin hoochie mamas along with the bling bling of the men with their pants halfway down their butts is a nuisance when trying to carry on a conversation with your party. Such a turn off for this type of place. Overall, next time I'll get invited to this place, I will politely pass and if it's for a special event, I'll gladly take the people celebrating it, to a tapas place that outshines this one!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/19/2012

    Went here after it was recommended by a friend.  

    Overall it was really good.  Our service was EXCEPTIONAL!  

    We had the grilled squid- it was AMAZING AMAZING.  All of the tapas we ordered were good.

    We then went on to order the Paella, which I was a little leary about given the cheap $12.00 price (most resturants it is really expensive).  There was enough food for two of us (after eating tapas), but it wasn't great.  If we were to go back again I would not order the Paella and just stick to the tapas.  We also only ordered a half carafe of Sangria, it was tasty, so I would order a full (for two people).  Other than that I say get there early as the place filled up pretty quick.  We will be going back.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/25/2011

    My favorite restaurant in the entire world.  We've been coming here since I was a kid.  This is always my first stop when I arrive in town, and my last before I leave.  My family gets very excited when I visit because it means that it's IBERICO TIME.  We haul the clan down there and start with maybe 8 pitchers of sangria (we like red).  No lie about the 8 pitchers- we have a huge family.  Everything is consistently fantastic, but I always have seconds of grilled octopus and garlic potato salad.  And strawberry crepes with Spanish coffee for dessert.  To die for.  Note that it gets crowded FAST and stays crowded for a good portion of the evening, so make a reservation if you can.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/21/2008

    Now that Bravo Tapas on Division is closed down, Cafe Iberico is my favorite tapas place in Chicago.  They have reasonable prices, a huge selection, and quick service.

    The queso de cabra (baked goat cheese with tomato sauce) is top notch.  The patatas bravas, a staple tapas item, aren't the best I've ever had, but they are still worth getting; they are saucier than most I've had.  And the pitchers of sangria are tasty and well priced.  

    This place is huge, with about 4 different rooms, including a basement.  It is always full when I go, but the large size also insures that I don't have to wait long (or at all) for to be seated.  The atmosphere is very communal, not only with your own table, but with other tables around you.  Yet, it doesn't feel cramped like Cafe Ba Ba Reeba.

    The downtown location makes this a good place to go after work or to meet up with visitors who are staying downtown.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/8/2009

    My second tapas experience led me to Cafe Iberico.  I was impressed by the prices but not by the food.  Everything is relatively cheap.  It only cost me $30 to sample a large portion of the menu including sangria, tax and tip.

    The Good:
    - Queso de Cabra - I really enjoyed the goat cheese with hot tomato sauce on soft bread.  Our table enjoyed two orders of this and I was happy for that.
    - Baked Ribeye - This came off the special menu for the night and was one of my favorite tapas.  It was like a thinly sliced pot roast in texture and flavor.
    - Sausage platter - This was delicious!  Hands down the best tapas this place has.  This was the one where I got greedy and took a larger portion than I should have to screw my friends over.
    - Paella Marinera - Huge portion for one order!  It was enough to serve the entire table of 8 people.  My first paella experience was a good one.

    The Bad:
    - Pincho de Solomillo - I've never had beef tenderloin be not so tender.  The meat was tough, chewy and had a terrible flavor.  This was definitely my least favorite tapas of the night.
    - Salmon Ahumado - Not a lot of flavor going on here.  Needless to say it wasn't one of the tapas I ordered.
    - Mejillones a la Marinera - My first mussle experience had sand in it.  Definitely not Good Eats!
    - Platano al Caramelo - My caramel banana dessert would have been much better with salted caramel.  Let's just say that I'm glad it came with ice cream.

    The Ugly:
    - White sangria - I was really looking forward to the sangria from here but ours was served warm.  They tried to put tons of ice in our pitcher but several people at our table were poured a glass with no ice and left with warm sangria.  It's like trying to choke down a warm beer.  No thanks.

    Our table of 8 had a few more tapas but since I don't remember them that's saying something.  Cafe Iberico is a cheap place to get your tapas fix.  Nothing was memorable but I was expecting a much higher price tag.  I wouldn't mind going back but with all the great restaurants in this city you won't find me there anytime soon.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/2/2009
    Listed in Best Happy Hour

    Cafe Iberico is not only a great place for happy hour (and don't forget your sangrias!) but is awesome for dinner.

    The jamon serrano is out of this world and I also love their grilled octopus.  And don't forget their paella...simply delectable!

    Get there early however...long waits on Fridays and Saturdays!

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/6/2011

    Best strawberry mojito I've ever had! as for their sangria? I've heard its ummm not so good....I loved the goat cheese  appetizer =) and also this certain dessert...that is like a crepe stuffed with ice cream and then topped with strawberries...mmmm so yummy...the wait is long but so worth it....

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/29/2008

    Iberico is a classic tapas joint downtown. Some of their best dishes:

    -Tortilla Espanola - sounds a little bland in theory, especially to this carnivore, but it's surprisingly delicious.
    -Pincho de Solomillo- if you like the idea of caramelized onions and well-cooked, well-seasoned beef, this is definitely one to get.
    -Pulpo a la Plancha (octopus and fry-like potatoes) boyfriend, who is seafood-averse, actually liked this dish -said the octopus was really tender.
    -Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp sauteed in olive oil and garlic) -enough said.
    -Baked goat cheese- a tapas favorite, and iberico always does it well.
    -Giant ice-cream filled crepes with strawberry sauce that can be difficult to finish after the gluttony one can't help but engage in during an iberico dinner...
    -Paella Iberica - amazing paella. this dish is so easy to screw up - cook it improperly and you can burn the outside. Iberico makes it so every piece of this dish is edible.
    -Last but certainly not least, the sangria (red!) is sweet, seductive and sneaks up on you like *that*. The only potential pitfall - this place's bathrooms tend to look like those at a frat party as the night gets busier and the crowd grows denser. So drink that sangria cautiously, friends.

    One of the most important things to note: Iberico doesn't take reservations. Know that you may wait for an hour - or 5 minutes. If you're looking for a date place with set times, go to Cafe Ba-ba-reeba or Emilio's instead. That being said, this was a huge get-together place for my friends, who could stand to wait 45 minutes together, sun or snow.

    Their portions are decent and their prices are much more reasonable than most River North restaurants. Cafe Iberico is just south of Chicago on Lasalle. They do valet, but you can usually find parking on Chicago west of Lasalle. There's also a Red Line El stop at Chicago and State so you can walk west 3 blocks from there.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/11/2010

    We had a group of maybe 12 with people coming and going intermittently (quite the dream to wait on) and there were no real mistakes on the orders though we did end up with an extra seafood combo!

    The sangria is $15 for a pitcher (supposed to be 8 glasses though I didn't count) but it basically is juice with fruit in it and not sweet enough for me. If everyone throws in, you are not paying much but you're not getting much if you want to drink alcohol.

    The price was very good for the food you are getting. I was impressed with the $1.95 options of single skewers of meats/veggies that you can add on---I got scallops and they were delish!! (3 for 1.95)  and not the tiny shimpy ones.  

    LOVE the chicken and fruit salad with sherry dressing. Half our table ordered this and only had good things to say.

    Free bread at the table which is pretty blah until you order something to dip it in and then becomes very useful. Everythings seems to come with beans on the side but they're seasoned and tasty.

    I was late so I can't comment on the wait but it did seem to fill up.  Still, that didn't affect our service until the very end when we had to wait forever for our check, long after it was clear that our meal was over.  Def not a deal breaker.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/23/2009

    I was pretty impressed by this restaurant.  

    I was a little freaked at first, since my friend ordered the first two dishes for us and I'm a super picky eater. Luckily, she did well.

    First we got the potatoes with pepper tomato sauce and the grilled octopus. Both were great! I especially loved the octopus.

    Then we ordered the cucucumber and crab, which was good as well. But really, the octopus was the best thing I had there.

    I highly recommend!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/9/2012

    Very, very, good food.  I am not a huge tapas fan, but, these were hearty tapas' portions and delicious.    The mussels tapas were definitely a standout.  As an aside, maybe it was the tapas and main courses that we chose, but, I would describe the food here as comfort food, lots of [terrific] sauces/gravies, but, on the heavier side.    It did get very, very, very loud at around 7:00 PM on a Friday night.  I would go back in a heartbeat but definitely try and avoid the peak crowd times.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 2.0 star rating
    8/23/2009

    We went to Cafe Iberico last night based on our friends recommendation.  We managed to get there before the crowds,, but were still seated downstairs in a dark, depressing, practically empty area.  The tv was loud and flashy and we were not feeling the mood.  We asked the hostess how long to wait for a table upstairs for 4 and she said an hour.  We kept pushing to go upstairs and finally when we did, lo and behold there are easily 6 tables that could have sat us.  Its not the biggest deal, but we were so much happier upstairs with other people and brighter lights (but there were still tvs all over the place).  

    For food we shared:   the seafood paella -- one of the better things we ate.  the octopus and potatoes -- which turned out to be dried out octopus and french fries (definitely not the same thing that was shown on the menu).   the spicy potatoes -- tasty, but a tad too salty.  the mushrooms -- okay.  the saffron scallops -- i liked these ,, it comes with some rice and mayonnaise, pretty tasty.  we also ordered one of the specials , the white fish with almonds and spinach.  bah, it was super bland and the spinach was so boring.. definitely a disappointment.  All of the food was either not good or okay.  Our friends had the same impression.  Im not sure what the big appeal is to people,, the food is not impressive, there is usually a long wait and the atmosphere is definitely lacking.  Im for sure not going to be coming back.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/21/2009

    One of my fave places in the Chi. I love coming here and I've been here dozens of times.  The tapas are delish!!  My faves are the croquettas, the goatcheese with the toasty bread, patatas ali-oli, jamon iberico, and everything else. Sangria is also delish, although I have had mostly the red sangria, the white sangria is very tasty we well. I often switch up my favorites.   Love coming here with large groups! you get to try to whole menu that way.

    Also prices here are very reasonable!

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/2/2009

    I'm not a very adventurous person so this was not really my first choice for dining locations.  My co-worker selected Cafe Iberico for our holiday lunch and I had little choice.

    The service was excellent.  The environment left a lot to be desired; it was crowded, loud and uncomfortable.

    The food...was okay.  Not my favorite.

  • 1.0 star rating
    10/30/2009
    Listed in avoid these...

    GROSS!  Do not go here.  I don't understand how people could enjoy this restaurant.  Service was horrible: rude hostess + server disappearing for 25 minutes then returned reeking of cigarettes, food was even worse.  The loud atmosphere and dirty napkins did not help either.

    Probably my worst dining experience in the city.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/8/2011

    I have been coming to Cafe Iberico since 1998 and not once have I had a bad experience. The food is amazing and what I love about the sangria is that each time I order sangria it's unique because the batches marinate for three days, from my understanding. No two are ever alike.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/1/2009
    1 check-in

    Usually when a restaurant is huge and packed all the time and makes you wait 2.5 hours for a table, I'd guess it was a bloody fantastic restaurant. But nay...

    The tapas are pretty generic - meaning that you can get them pretty much at any other tapas restaurant. The quality isn't that great either. I first thought that it was so popular since the prices were low (about $8/tapa), but it takes about 3 per person to get filled. The service is very polite so there is an extra star.

    I haven't been too impressed with the Tapas restaurants in Chicago so maybe that is why it is so busy.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/25/2009

    Sangria, hot tapas, cold tapas, ole!!

    I don't typically like seafood but I decided to be adventurous tonight skipping only the mussels. To my surprise, I liked almost everything. The octopus and shrimp tapas were tasty but the calamari was a bit chewy although I hear calamari generally suffers from that problem so I won't hold it against them. The crab cakes were only ok but the grilled mushrooms were perfect and the baked goat cheese was sublime (my mouth actually waters just thinking about this dish!).   The pork loin or raxo adobado was a bit dry and the patatas bravas a bit spicy so I had to drink lots of sangria to wash them down - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

    All around very good culinary experience and attentive service despite our very big group.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/14/2009

    I'm not sure that I can offer anything new to the hundreds and hundreds of reviews, but I love Cafe Iberico so I have to throw in my two cents.

    Hands down, my favorite tapas restaurant in the city.  It's not fancy, the menus are plastic and dated, but the food is yummy and the prices are more than reasonable.  I don't think I've ever paid more than $20 for a meal here---that includes multiple tapas dishes and usually a pitcher of sangria for the table.  It's one of my go-to suggestions for dinner with friends.

    My first experience was seven years ago---about a month after I moved to the city.  I was meeting a group of college acquaintances to meet some shared visiting friends.  We were here for a few hours and had nearly the entire menu with a never-ending supply of sangria and I still paid under $20.  

    I've returned many times.  I brought my 19 year old cousin and a friend on visit from OH.  They were nervous, never had tapas before.  I ordered for the table, but they didn't trust me so they added a salad "just in case."  The salad went uneaten and my recommendations were devoured.  

    Whenever I come I have to have three things:  queso de cabra (the baked goat cheese), patatas ali-oli (cold garlic potato salad), and Jamon Iberico (ham and cheese with tomato bread).  All are excellent, every time.  I also love the sangria, which is reasonably priced as well.

    I had to knock one star off my review because the restaurant doesn't take reservations and weekend evenings bring an hour wait for a table.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/1/2008 Updated review
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    Had dinner at Iberico last Friday with some friends, and I have to say that for the first time I didn't love it. We were a bit rushed thru our meal, which is always a big no-no with me. It's lost some of its charm and that makes me sad.

    4.0 star rating
    8/27/2008 Previous review
    Iberico always has been and always will be my favorite tapas restaurant in Chicago. I've never… Read more
  • 5.0 star rating
    3/24/2011

    The food here was absolutely delicious! We ordered four tapas: Croquetas de Pollo, Pulpo la Plancha, Raxo Adobado, and Pincho de Solomillo. All of the tapas were phenominal, especially the Pulpo la Plancha. I've been here two times now and have been impressed both times by the red Sangria... it's amazing and only $4 a glass! This is a great place to go with a group, but a little loud for a date and to hold an intimate conversation.

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/16/2011

    Meh...Ate here tonight with my wife and I have to say I wasn't to impressed.  We ordered a few small plates from the hot side of the menu and one of their specials.  All of the hot items weren't all that good, each was cooked well but they all seemed to be quite bland.  They seriously lacked seasoning and flavor.  Also they all tasted the same nothing really stood out.  As for the special, we had the crab spread over toast. Had a good flavor until is bit down on a chunk of grab shell, it ruined the dish for me and just made me loose my appetite.  I most likely won't be heading back and am left wondering what the hype is about.  On the good side service was very good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/9/2011
    1 check-in

    Great Tapas. Trendy place. Long wait.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/1/2012

    I love this place. I seriously could go here every week. Haha actually during sometimes of the year I do go here every week. The service is fast , the tapas choices are numerous...I really can't say anything bad :)

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/24/2009

    I went in a group of 5 and of the ten plates we ordered, all were delectable.  This place gets crazy busy so the service is good but not stellar.

    It seems like you basically can't go wrong with whatever you order.  Yum!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/5/2009

    A couple friends and I lucked out that the time we met here for dinner was a day of horrible snow, so it wasn't quite as insanely packed as it normally is.

    Cafe Iberico is a LIVELY tapas place. Music, chatter and the fact that the tables are crammed together do not make for a quiet, romantic evening. However, it has a lot of energy, and if that's what you're in the mood for, you won't be disappointed. And I bumped into a girl from my grade school and high school who was at the table next to mine. Its popularity makes it a place to randomly see people you might otherwise not meet again.

    Our table was too small for all of the dishes we ordered; no problem, we just ate more quickly. Well, I guess I'd prefer to not have to do that. But there was a lot of food to share. I delighted in a few vegan dishes: marinated olives (with whole cloves of garlic - yum!), artichoke salad (with red and yellow peppers and vinaigrette, grilled mushrooms (with garlic and olive oil) and patatas bravas. All were delicious and hit the spot. Mmm, the patatas bravas here are some of the most perfectly spicy ones I can recall; I'm drooling for the mushrooms as I think about them.

    I didn't have the patience to wait for veggie paella, but that's my fault for eating a small lunch. I'd love to try it some time.

    I wish the wine lists were a little more descriptive, but our random selection worked out fine. Once it gets hot out I'll go back for sangria. It's been a couple years since I was last here (before this recent dinner), but I remember it being great all around.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/11/2009

    Some great things about this place:
    Great portions for the price
    Flavor packed
    Potent sangria
    Wide variety to suit your cravings
    Fantastic wait staff

    I've been coming here for about six years. Service never fails, food is always hot and tasty, and the price is right.

    A few things to try if you've never been here before:
    Queso de Cabra - Very tasty goat cheese with a toasted garlic (?) bread
    Patatas Bravas - Potatoes with a pepper tomato sauce. You will have a lot of sauce left over to eat up with bread.
    Championes a la Plancha - Sauteed mushrooms. Very good. Interesting (in a good way) with the sauce from the potatoes.
    Pincho de Pollo - Skewered chicken with this yummy yellow rice.
    Croquetas de Hamon - OMG, these are awesome, and you will definitely want to have some of the spread they bring with it on bread.
    Paella Iberica - Yellow rice with several different small veggies and meats. Comes in the skillet.
    Salmon a la Pimeinta - Lovely cooked salmon just golden with some asparagus and a yummy green sauce. I wish I knew what it was.

    I once came in with a group of six, and at the end of our lunch, we paid $120 including tip! That's TWENTY DOLLARS per person including soda and desert! I cannot express how awesome this place is. You must go, even if you've never been, just take my suggestions and you will leave satisfied and full.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/26/2009

    So I avoid River North like the ex who may or may not have given me the chlamydia.  Most of the restaurants there are either full of obnoxious people, or well out of my price range.  Well this tapas joint is neither.  (Ok, SOMETIMES it's full of obnoxious people).

    That'd be the only complaint I had about Iberico - being packed.  These folks make like Bob Barker and "sexually harass their assistants," wait I mean "make the price right!"

    The tapas are pretty top notch.  Me gusta camarones!  The paella is above average and the goat cheese is muy bueno!

    This is a great place for small groups, but a bad place for a large group, particularly on a weekend night between 6 and 9.  Luckily, I like to eat dinner early like an old lady, so no hour long waits for me (unless I go to Kuma's).

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/5/2011 Updated review

    I've been back countless times since I wrote my first review, which is saying something considering I don't live in Chicago and I don't ever really visit- I'm only here when I'm going to or from the airport.  My boyfriend and I have come to love this place because it is the ultimate place to treat ourselves- we order one dish at a time, love every single one and are never disappointed, including appetizers, "entrees" (which are really just larger plates since it's a tapas restaurant), dessert, and coffee.  We spend 2+ hours here every time, enjoying the company, our food, and pitchers of sangria...all for an incredibly reasonable price.  This summer we are flying into Chicago solely to have lunch here, then we are taking the bus up to Madison- that has to be worth an extra three stars, at least.

    4.0 star rating
    8/16/2009 Previous review
    I can see why people could be initially disappointed by this place- the decorations aren't anything… Read more
  • 5.0 star rating
    10/20/2008

    Food: Excellent - still reminiscing, actually!
    Service: Great
    Price: AWESOME

    Craving a variety of seafood perfectly seasoned and flavored? Go to Cafe Iberico. Tapas bars are usually overpriced - plates with barely enough samplings of food for 2. Not so at Iberico!

    Meet the largest, most mouth-watering delicous tapa plates you will ever have.
    1. Grilled squid = $5.95. 4 large cuts of squid, lightly sauteed.
    2. Clams with white wine = $6.95. The "small" must be a misnomer. At least one pound of clams for $6.95. You can barely buy a pound of clams for this price, let alone deliciously flavored ones.
    3. Seafood Paella = $10.95. At this price we expected something small. Again, Iberico shines.
    4. Trio of soups special = $3.95. Generous "mini" portions of 3 soups - delicious and uniquely their own.

    The only disappointment were the mojitos - not that much alcohol but they did have a nice selection - strawberry, mango, etc.

    My only hope is to find something even close in the bay area! We will miss you, Iberico.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/9/2008

    First things first: I will drink anywhere.

    No, really. Anywhere.

    So when I checked out Cafe Iberico's reviews and found more than a couple decrying this place's lackluster approach to cleanliness, I was unfazed.

    I'll drink sangria out of an unwashed pitcher that previously held...someone else's sangria. Fuck it. I'll also drink beer out of a pint glass with lipstick on it. And I don't wear lipstick.

    I am not a proud woman.

    Anyway, yeah, it's not exactly clean or fancy or hip. But it's tasty and the seafood's good. A bit too much mayonnaise was involved, but other than that, no complaints. And no foodborne illnesses!

    Kidneys still fucking hate me.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/16/2008
    1 check-in

    I have long been a fan of tapas here and our trip on Wednesday night did not disappoint. I've usually been here over the weekend, and we typically get seated in the basement.

    If you are planning on ordering a paella, make sure that you order it right away, since it typically takes up to 40 minutes. (Ours came out sooner, since it wasn't as busy). It was quite tasty, with the right amount of spices and ingredients. Otherwise, we enjoyed the veggie omelet and mushrooms as well.

    For dessert, the poached pears in red wine were sweet but not overpowering.

    You can order Sangria either in red or white wine, and by the glass, or by small (4 glasses) or large pitcher. We had red which came in a regular glass and a small amount of fruit.

    Definitely the place was noisy, even at partial capacity. Even if everyone is quiet, expect the background music to be slightly louder than "background". But hey, this isn't supposed to be a quiet candlelit dinner...this...is...TAPAS!

    Service was acceptable and timely most of the times I've been here.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/25/2009

    Everything was satisfactory, but nothing was outstanding (not even the famous goat cheese). Friendly and mostly attentive service. The sangria was kind of tasteless, but I couldn't put my finger on what it needed -- stronger flavored wine as a base, more sugar?

    We had fun here and it certainly was affordable--$20 for my share of a pitcher of sangria and about 10 plates--but I wouldn't make a special trip for it.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/5/2009 Updated review

    I went back to Iberico a week ago and something terrible happened ... their patatas bravas tasted terrible!  It's not the same anymore!  OH GOD, WHY?!

    The rest of our meal was good though.  We had their mackerel special and the flavors were amazing.  Mackerel can be a tough fish to pair sometimes because it can be a little too "fishy" but it was perfect.  They plated it in a vinaigrette with pickled veggies.  My favorite dish of the night.

    PLEASE bring back the old recipe for the patatas bravas!

    4.0 star rating
    4/30/2009 Previous review
    I love tapas, there's just something about ordering a ton of different kinds of food that's… Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    1/22/2011

    This is definitely my go-to tapas place in Chicago. It's the closest you can get to enjoying tapas in Spain, due to both the atmosphere and the food! Definitely try their sangria, especially the red wine sangria, because it's delicious! Be careful though, because it will definitely sneak up on you and you'll feel it when you get up to leave. I go there at least 5-6 times a year and I've tried various things on the menu- I've never been disappointed. Some of my favorites are:

    patatas ali-oli (potato salad with garlicky mayo sauce)
    jamon iberico (Spanish ham with manchego cheese and tomato toasts)
    queso de cabra (baked goat cheese with tomato sauce and pesto toasts)
    pulpo a la plancha (grilled octopus with potatoes)
    and raxo adobado (pork loin with thin french fries)

    If it's your birthday, don't tell them unless you're jonesing for a phallic- but delicious- dessert. If not, just order the caramelized bananas- YUM!  The atmosphere of the place is awesome. They always have lively music playing and it's a fun place to go with friends. There are usually large groups of people there and every time I've been there on a weekend I've seen at least one birthday celebration. It's definitely not the place to take your grandma for tapas; the crowd is younger and the place is loud and vibrant. They don't get a full 5 stars because the service can be off sometimes and they don't take reservations.  I was there on a Tuesday night once and the place was relatively empty but our waiter was extremely slow. To make matters worse, he was standing close to our table because we were right by the kitchen and he was just talking to his coworkers while we sat there wanting to order more and needing water refills. Not taking reservations is a pain too, because sometimes the wait can get long. The upside to that is that you can sit at the bar and wait while drinking their yummy sangria! Another major plus is how cheap this place is- you get so much food and sangria for about 25-30 dollars per person, usually! All in all, the food, atmosphere, and affordability make this an awesome tapas spot

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/24/2008

    I was really excited to try this place as I haven't had tapas in awhile and so many of my friends rave about Cafe Iberico.  However, none of the food stood out to me and some even disappointed, such as the seafood paella which I was initially so excited to try.  However, the sangria was delicious and I think the company and cool server salvaged the evening for me, even if the food wasn't up to par for me.  Will need to try it again to see if I have a better experience with the food next time.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/18/2011

    Went to Cafe Iberico on a recent Sunday night... Appreciated that our group of 3 was seated right away but can't say this is the best tapas in Chicago. Sorry but the patatas bravas don't even come close to Cafe Babareeba! It will probably be a while before I try this place again.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/16/2009

    I was looking for a place for my boyfriend and I to celebrate our one year anniversary, and I decided I wanted tapas! I was going to go to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, but I had a few friends say oohhhh noooooo and one suggested Iberico. It had a pretty solid rating on yelp, wasn't a pain in the ass to get to (I'm in Logan Square), and as a bonus was open late. My boyfriend and I oohed and ahhed at the menu and got excited. Neither of us had eaten tapas before.

    We get there around 11p on a Saturday night. i had a backup in case this place was open til 1:30 but the kitchen closed early but that was definitely not the case. We were seated immediately but there were still plenty of people there- perfect! It was a bit hard to hear in there at first, but as we ate (we stayed until 12:30) it emptied a bit more and it was easier. There were also a bunch of 90s music videos playing, which was kind of weird, but entertaining.

    We started off with a half pitcher of sangria (red). It was only $10 and we each got about 2-3 glasses out of it so it was a great deal. We split an order of Queso de Cabra, goat cheese in a tomato basil sauce. I've never had anything with goat cheese I didn't like so it was divine. As for our plates, I got Salmon Ahumado (sliced salmon, dill sauce, capers, toast) and this Spanish potato salad with tuna, peas, carrots (can't find the name as it's not online even though it wasn't a special). Both dishes were cold and very delicious. The potato salad was a huge portion so I took half home and it made for a good snack. He got Patatas Ali-Oli, Red potatoes with garlic mayonnaise sauce. He loves garlic and there were cloves of it, and I will probably be eating his leftovers from that (again, huge portions), and Gambas Al Ajillo, grilled shrimp with olive oil, garlic and wine.

    We didn't have room for desert, as we were so stuffed, but we had a wonderful time! Bill for 5 plates and the 1/2 pitcher of sangria was about $51, so definitely not bad at all, also considering we have 2 portions of leftovers. I think this would be a great place to go to after a show since it's open so late, and they have a deli so I will keep that in mind as well. An amazing introduction to tapas!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/15/2012

    Always busy and loud and that's what I like about this place.Also, lets don't forget about food and Sangria.Good place to come in and start your night.Enjoy.Try shrimp in garlic oil..to die for.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/7/2009

    I have an incredible affinity for Spanish food. I try my damndest to have tapas as often as humanly possible without running my friends into the ground. Last week, my family was in town and hadn't yet tried Iberico so... new victims! Yahoo!

    The tostadas de pisto were the tablewide favorite - the veggies were perfectly roasted and served cold, tossed with olive oil. Satisfaction. Of course, plates of jamon iberico + manchego and pulpo* were necessary, all of which were tasty. The roasted mushrooms were also a fan favorite - just make sure your fellow diners either have gum on hand or are turned on by garlic breath of monsoon proportions. I only wish the tortill didn't have the aftertaste of refrigerator chill last time, because it's usually quite good.

    There are a few things missing from the menu that Ba-Ba-Reeba has - bacon wrapped dates and better baked goat cheese, but Iberico's menu is more authentic which gives it the edge.

    *Re: pulpo. You love it or you hate it. If you hate it, it's probably because you haven't had it prepared the right way and the "texture freaks [you] out." When done right, it should be warm, soft and delicate, not reminiscent of your old bike tires. Oddly, the best place I've had it is among the red lights in Amsterdam, so if you really want the best pulpo ever, I suggest you go there (and indulge in other things, while you're at it). Iberico is a pretty close second.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/8/2009

    This is the best tapas bar in the U.S.
    The food is delicious and the sangrias are very delightful. Here's a tip.... After dinner, order the specialty dessert (caramel banana, with two scoops of ice-cream, whip-cream, and strawberries). They form it into a delightful treat lol.
    Also their scallops are amazing. If you want good food and a fun time, this is the place to be.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/12/2012

    This place doesn't have a great atmosphere for a date you're trying to impress, but completely cool for a hang out. Casual date is ok too. People come here dressed up in the evenings on weekends because this is the spot to grab food before or after you hit a club. The food is DELICIOUS!

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/5/2008

    I use to like this place (sangria is pretty good, tapas are just ok) but I was there with a large group and we were all still figuring out the bill and tip when our waitress snatched up the bill booklet and stormed away. We didn't have a second to say "hey we aren't done with that" BUT THEN she returns and asks us if she did something wrong and how she wants us to explain short changing her. UMM...we all looked at her like "are you kidding me". Me (group spokesperson) in an attempt to uphold the fun-loving spirit of the evening that my friends and I were trying to have, just explained and she gave us back the bill with no real apology.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/2/2009

    I don't know what it is about this place that keeps me coming back.  The tapas are as hit or miss as their service; the place gets way too crowded for enjoyment and it really isn't as cheap as you think tapas should be.  I have been here about a dozen times. Three of those times were with large groups and on one occasion 6 of us got sick, real sick, like afraid to leave the bathroom sick for about 3 days.  We think it may have been the calamari (which at times seems too gummy to be properly cooked) or the banana & 2 scoops ice cream meant to resemble a penis dessert.  However, I still keep coming back.  I think they put crack in their food.  Seriously.

  • 1.0 star rating
    10/7/2012

    The food was terrible. My husband and I had a Paella but was really small and zero sea food. We went with a group and they refuse to bill us separately to charge us an extra 18% more for service. Also the Salpicon de mariscos was terrible only onion and tomatoes and zero sea food againg. They also pretended to charge us for jerez for the paella.The waiter was also rude to us, we had a terrible time there.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/4/2011

    Lunch and dinner always good and consistent.  Favorites, ensalada Mixta, Jamon Iberico although it is not the acorn fed true Iberican ham, Patata's Ali-oli, pincho de solomillo and just about everything else on the menu.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/3/2011
    1 check-in

    Cafe Iberico is one of my FAVORITE restaurants in Chicago!  I lived in CHI for 5 years and tried MANY places but its pretty hard to beat the Sangria and all the GREAT tapas options at Cafe Iberico! The ENSALADA MIXTA (Spanish style mixed salad with asparagus, beets, hearts of palm, endive, dressed with our vinaigrette and wine dressing), PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO (Beef tenderloin skewer with fries and caramelized onions), and QUESO DE CABRA (Baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce) are my favorites and a few of the BEST!  Every single time I go in, its a requirement to end the amazing experience with a PLATANO AL CARAMELO (Sautéed banana with caramel sauce served with vanilla ice cream)- THIS IS AMAZING!  I seriously have dreams about this dessert!!!  YUMMY doesn't even begin to describe!!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/2/2008

    I love this place.  Cafe Iberico has the bustling vibe on Saturday Nights and it seems that Chicagoans round up for a few pitchers of red/white sangrias and then slowly gather their appetites for a dozen of delicious dishes that truly glorify the taste of Spain.   The service is attentive and and the food is spectacular.   Go w. a big group of friends and go bananas.   Each dish ranges from $5 - $10 so its definitely easy on the pocket books.  

    I can't wait to fly back to Chicago and relive this experience.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/8/2011

    Came here after a long hiatus. This place is authentic in both food and decor. It can get loud and have a long line on the weekends, but for a Wednesday night there was a perfectly full crowd as well.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/24/2008

    Me likes Cafe Iberico.  Me likes the Patatas Bravas, or Brave Potatoes.  Not too spicy but have a little spicy kick in the tomato sauce.  Me also likes the Croquetas de Pollo, or Chicken Croquettes.  They are breaded and puffy and look like mozarella sticks but are stuffed with chicken and ham.  Me likes sausages so I get the Chorizo Y Morcilla plate of Spanish sausages!  Me likes shrimp so I get the Gambas al Ajillo, grilled shrimp with olive oil and wine.

    Me have shitty grammar!

    Cafe Iberico is a great place to get tapas.  For a weeknight dinner, I recommend high tailing it immediately after work to secure a seat.  It gets really busy really quick!  And, it isn't busy only because it's more affordable than many-a-tapas joints in the city, but because the food is great too.  Try ordering the same exact things at Emilio's and keep your receipt.  My friend and I did just that and the bill at Emilio's was about $60 and Iberico's under $40, including a pitcher of sangria!  Most importantly, the food at Iberico was better.

    The only gripe I have about Iberico is the noise level.  Voices easily reverberate off the walls, so be prepared to use your vocal chords and repeat yourself and strain to hear.  As conversation is important on a first date, it's not a good first date option given the noise level.

    When I picture Brave Potatoes, I picture a cartoon potato with a face on it weilding a giant sword, screaming obscenities and running at a pack of scared nuns.  Heh...

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/5/2009

    My goodness!! By far, THE BEST tapas spot I have ever tried! I hope I can find something close to this in Northern California!

    It was pretty busy when we came. We put our name in and sat at the bar and ordered a couple of drinks. Don't pass up on the Sangria - YUMMY!

    We waited about 15 minutes for our table. This place is huge...and loud! This is great for getting together with friends. It is by far not a place to take a date. It's very loud and you have to talk loud enough to hear each other. The loudness adds to the atmosphere - very active and fun.

    Everything we ordered was YUM:

    Queso De Cabra (aked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce and toasted sourdough bread)
    Ensalada De La Casa (House Salad)
    Pincho De  Solomillo (Beef tenderloin skewer with fries and caramelized onions)
    Calamares A La Plancha (Grilled squid with olive oil, garlic and lemon juice with fries)

    I would love to try more dishes. If I ever visit Chicago again, I will definitely come back here for more!

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 3.0 star rating
    6/1/2009

    So I'm a tourist in dire need of something that's not a steakhouse or a pizza joint. A friend who use to live in Chicago recommended this place. I definitely get the appeal... but the portions are huge for "tapas" and the sangria is slightly too sweet and not alcoholic enough (do they water it down? how did two people share a large pitcher and not feel a thing?).

    The service is a bit fragmented, but it's super efficient and gets the job done. There's no real ambiance, probably because of the volume (in dimensions and sound) of the place. The karaoke-style tv screens don't help things. The food wasn't outstanding, but I wasn't at all dissappointed. Solid fare. Good location. Nothing to write home about.

  • 1.0 star rating
    5/10/2008

    Sit at the bar in the North room, towards the east end. You'll see the wonderfully choreographed Sangria pitcher filling.

    Step 1: Reach for a dirty, used pitcher sitting in a big aluminum sink - doesn't matter if there is some left over sangria from a previous serving in it.

    Step 2: Take said dirty pitcher, and dunk it into one of 5 large 40-gallon plastic garbage totes/drums full of pre-mixed red or white sangria. That's right. And do it with your bare hands.

    Step 3: Place the filled pitcher back into te aluminum sink, until  someone orders a pitcher.

    Step 4 (bonus): Take all sangria glasses from the bar, dip them once into soapy water, and place them onto the "clean" rack.

    I can only imagine what happens in the kitchen. Uff.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/1/2011

    I LOVE this place. I've been here about 3 times and every time it has been fantastic.

    We have tried both paella's (Marinara and Iberico) before and as soon as we sit down, we order our paella first. It is delicious....

    While we wait, we order the tapas and the service is incredibly quick and courteous. Excellent water service (refills) and as soon as you're seated, a plate of bread is ready. Dipping sauces are olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

    One of the times we came, we were parked at a meter with only 1 hour paid. We were in and out in about 40 min! This was including plato combinado (cold tapa), pincho de solomillo (hot tapa), raxo adobado (hot tapa), paella marinara (entree)! As soon as were finished with one tapa, another one was ready at the table...=)

    my only complaint is that we've also tried the filloa de helado y creama (dessert) at another visit and it was a little too soggy...but this place is still 5 stars in my book!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/21/2009

    Mixed seafood salad and grilled mushrooms are to die for!!! I am getting hungry right now!Everything I tried there was always outstanding especially their Sangria :)
    It can get really crowded on the weekends but is absolutely worth the wait! The staff is always super kind and I love their prices as well!

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/30/2009

    Ehh.

    I am a fan of tapas restaurants because they bring people together.  It is perfect for a group setting and usually they have fun drinks to choose from.   Cafe Iberico made me not like tapas.  Portions are small, food was greasy and underseasoned.  

    Skip this restaurant, go to Ba-Ba-Reeba.  Although the service here was great.  Which is why I gave two stars.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/22/2012

    Great small plates! Best octopus I've had, not chewy at all. Good sausage, the goat cheese in the red sauce was a nice treat, the paella was sweeter than I like, and the creme brule like dessert was good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/3/2009

    Go for the sangria, stay for the baked goat cheese, mussels, and garlic potato salad.

    Ask to sit on the left side of the restaurant, it's way more fun over there.  There is no music on the right side, what's up with that?

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/8/2008

    Skip BaBa Reeba, Skip Emilio's, go to Iberico!

    I hesitate to say I have ever dined at Cafe Iberico because I would say the dining experience at Iberico is more of a celebration than a food experience.  The only contingency related to this review is that you should definitely go with at least four people so you may adequately sample the range of tapas available. Also, one more item, if you go on a Friday or Saturday night, be prepared to wait, wait, and wait some more.  When you do get a table, you will be packed in like sardines.  But if you love tapas, this will not bother you because eating this wonderful food is truly a communal experience.  There's a reason Iberico can pack them in, and it's not just the amazing prices.

    Unlike Emilio's, the portion sizes of the tapas are quite a bit bigger and you truly do get a good bang for your buck.  Must-have Tapas include Patatas Ali-Oli, Queso de Cabra, Croquetas de Pollo, Canelon de Atun, and Championes de la Plancha.  Translation: Garlicky Potato Salad that will make you a social leper yet feel as though you have died and gone to garlic heaven, a yummy marinara sauce with hot goat cheese and toasted bread, succulent and rich (you can really only have one bite!) fried ham "puffs", a great rendition of Tuna canelloni, and grilled garlic and olive oil infused mushrooms.  

    This is the place for people who have chronic indecisiveness when it comes to ordering.  The beauty of tapas is the ability to order many items affordably and within the range of your appetite.  This is not the place for people who don't like to share.   I have been to Iberico with one or two folks who like to hoard plates or refuse to try new things, which inevitably creates whispering at the table.

    The Sangria is pretty good, I mean, it's pretty cheap wine and it does the trick.  The full bar is of particular convenience for parties beginning their nights for pre-drinking tapas.

    All in all, Cafe Iberico is a great Chicago treasure that's great for communal dining!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/21/2011

    This place looks like the center point of the world, with the way it gathers people. You can enjoy the bar while waiting to be seated. The food is delicious, the prices are decent, and great service. Also, it is a classy yet homey environment. A great place to eat after a long day in downtown, or before going out for the night! One of my favorites.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/19/2008
    Listed in Lunch In The Loop

    I enjoy tapas a good deal but hadn't been anywhere for them in awhile. Went here for lunch awhile back with some people from work, two of the people had been before and they really dug the place. Since they had been here before I let them pick most of the items for lunch. Everything we ordered was delicious! A stand out for me was the seafood paella. The service was great and the prices were very reasonable.

    Seems like from other yelpers this place can get busy, but for lunch it was pretty empty. If you can make it for lunch, I highly recommend it.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/2/2010

    My husband and I just went here to celebrate his brother's birthday. We had a fantastic time. The place was packed and noisy as usual!
    Our food came out quickly and was delicious! Our server recommended a desert special that was out of this world. I have a great experience every time I visit.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/11/2009

    Not bad at all, decent prices, good service.  I guess it doesn't help that I suffered from some sort of food poisoning the entire night afterwards (6 hours afterwards...which means it's probably from here).

    Oh well, the sangria was good.  All of the potato tapas were delicious.  The soft shell crab tapas was fresh, slightly crunchy and wonderful.  The paella wasn't bad, especially for the $10.95 price.

    All in all, I'd go back again.  However, I'd rather go to Ba-Ba-Reeba instead.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/2/2008

    Good not great Tapas.  Lively atmosphere, though feels slightly like you are in a cafeteria.  Had dinner here with 3 others.  Great place for groups, though may be too loud for a solo date.

    Sangria was ok, only memorable part was that they wanted you to get drunk and refilled it and your glasses when nearing empty.

    Food was good, but nothing was all that memorable.

    SJPBNov08

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/12/2009

    Cafe Iberico is my favorite go-to restaurant in Chicago.  They serve the tastiest and most reasonably priced Tapas I've ever had.  The food comes out very quickly, and the service is always great.  I have never tried something from their menu that I didn't love.  The portions are generous compared to other Tapas restaurants.  The sangria is so inexpensive...I think it's $7 for a half pitcher, which will get 2 or 3 people well buzzed.  Parking is pretty easy near the restaurant.  I always find an open meter quickly.  After trying Cafe Ba Ba Reeba last night and leaving disappointed, I will never again stray from my beloved Cafe Iberico.

    P.S.  If you're new to Iberico, try the following menu favorites:  Canalon de Atun (my absolute favorite), Croquetas, Jamon Iberico, and Salmon Ahumado.  You will also never go wrong if you order one of the day's specials...ESPECIALLY if it is served with saffron sauce.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/2/2009

    As my first meal in Chicago, I was not dissapointed. This was my first time trying tapas. My ponderous pal brought me here after taking me to the John Hancock building.

    She ordered the goat cheese with toasted bread, beef skewer with carmelized onions, some rice dish with stuff I was allergic to, and some potato in some mayo sauce(which was my favorite).

    All of these dishes were appetizing and I am looking foward to my next try at tapas.

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/15/2011

    My first reaction to this place is, terrible. But that would be unfair. The thing is, Cafe Iberico receives a lot of praise so you go in with high expectations and are disappointed that it doesn't live up to it. I think regulars have an attachment due to the ambiance or whatever sentimental reason and don't really judge it without bias.

    I was taken there on Wednesday for my birthday and for one, it was waaaaaaaay too loud. The music was so loud the speakers were distorting and everyone in the restaurant was yelling over it to talk. Now, I don't mind loud places, in fact I love them, but this was waaaaay too loud. I mean is it a club or a cafe?
    The food came quick and hot but the meat was unseasoned and the sauces were not helping. Now, the food was not bad overall, we had pinchos of chicken and steak, some goat cheese dip thing, a squid and fries thing, a smoked salmon dish, patatas bravas and maybe something else. It was all prepared fine, just not great. Average, especially for downtown. This is more of a neighborhood place. Good thing is they don't charge downtown prices.
    Nice mixed crowd. A few snobs but it is downtown. Nice decor but I could do without the R rated Euro movie playing on the screens that showed full frontals of a man and woman. I like the idea, but I am eating ya know?
    Overall, an average place that is ok if you don't mind yelling to talk to your date/coherts, and still not being able to hear. Food is ok if you're into average Spanish food. Oh and I forgot to mention, the service is mediocre too. The only reason I go out to eat these days is for the service. Food is food and in Chicago there are plenty of choices. My server although quick forgot that my date, a regular, ask for no potatoes on her squid/octopus dish and he didn't listen. She said it costs more but she was willing to pay as she always does but he failed to accommodate and she was too hungry to send it back. He could have been a little more personable as well. Anyway, I won't be back unless someone offers to take me there again and only if they insist.

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/1/2008

    I'm not sure what this place is trying to scam but the goat cheese is NOT goat cheese.  I ordered the marinara with goat cheese and it appeared to be normal until I tried to mix it in with the marinara and it didn't melt.  It appeared as if they were trying to pass off ricotta as goat cheese, similar to what lasagna looks like.  I even asked the waiter and told him it tasted like ricotta - he said it was goat cheese.  There is no way it was goat cheese because I order this all the time.  This put a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the meal.

    A plus of this place is there are pictures next to the dish so you know what you're getting yourself into.  That was cool.  The sangria was $13 a pitcher - and they were very generous with that (no adding ice to fill and then pouring the sangria into the pitcher - it was all sangria.)  As someone else mentioned, the fruit in the sangria was bad.  The apples didn't taste fresh at all.

    We also ordered the Beef Tenderloin and chicken skewer, as well as the clams.  They were all pretty good - I particularly liked the carmelized onions they had on the plates of the beef and chicken.  Their portions are pretty big for the price.

    The service was meh.  I asked for a glass of ice for the sangria and he never brought it.  I had to ask the bus boy and he promptly brought over a mini pitcher of ice.

    I'd rather go to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba any day.

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/7/2008

    I've only been to 4, but Iberico is my least favorite tapas in chicago.  
    -First time I went, all my food was mushy.
    -Second time, there was a flood in the bathroom and I got soaked from my feet to my knees.  They didn't offer to comp anything :O.
    -Third time, I was just dissapointed in the food quality, everything was kinda bland.
    -Fourth time, the food was a little better, but the place was so hot and stuffy.  I also could not hear anything my friends were saying so I began a nifty daydreaming sequence that lasted all of dinner.  I think it had something to do with carnies and corn on the cob.

    Why do I keep going to Iberico when I am continually displeased?  For some reason everyone else in the world loves it!  I can't figure it out... but I'm thinking I must be the crazy one.  So take my review with a grain of salt :)

  • 1.0 star rating
    4/26/2009

    Went here for a company event, so we ordered a wide smattering of food...let's just say was quite disappointed. Being a spanish place I believe the dish you need to "blow out of the water" is your paella. Having traveled through Spain, I can say the paella served at this restaurant was not even close in comparison. The rest of the dishes were edible but not worth the money .

    The atmosphere was decent, but REALLY noisy (and I usually do noisy, being a big fan of clubs in the city, etc), there was no way you could hold a conversation. You would be yelling over your dinner to someone a foot away from you.

    Don't recommend, not worth the money, many better tapas/spanish places in the city.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/25/2008

    When you walk into Cafe Iberico it oozes energy.  Tapas are usually not for the introverts and all the little social meals combine to make one big, fun cacophony (like that word?  I used it on my college essay).

    So the scene is set, and I always get really excited to be here - especially after I get some sangria and/or wine in me.  The sangria here is mad tasty and definitely heavy on the alcohol.

    Moving on to the menu. . . the food here is not good.  I like the goat cheese. . . . . and the bread. . . . but everything else falls flat.  Please do not order the spicy potatoes.  Ever.  I don't know what Alpo tastes like but if I could guess, it would taste and smell a lot like those spicy taters.  Ew.  

    So "yea"on the drinks and vibe but "nay" the food.  If you're looking for a liquid meal - go at it.  If you want some tasty tapas, go to Twist.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/25/2009

    Cafe Iberico is much better than Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba.

    It's a debate amongst my friends sometimes, but that's my opinion. Café Iberico is cheap, very authentic, and consistently delicious. What's not to love? I'll admit that the atmosphere is a little hokey, but the food makes up for it. I've really never had anything bad here, but the standouts for me are the patatas bravas and the clams. When you come here, you are guaranteed a fun time and a delicious meal (the cheap wine doesn't hurt, either).

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/8/2012

    My favorite tapas place in the entire city. They also have the best sangria of anywhere i've ever had, i love wine and am an avid wine drinker but most sangrias try to blend too much wine and too much fruit and it just tastes well odd. Somehow Iberico does it right. My favorite dish isn't always on the menu but if you ask for it they can make it: goat cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon...heavenly.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/17/2009 Updated review

    Went for our "Easter" dinner.  I still love the food, but my one complaint is that the tables are too small for the number of plates.

    This time we ordered dessert--the Spanish tiramisu.  It was heavenly.

    4.0 star rating
    2/15/2009 Previous review
    We went here for our V-day celebration-- the day after V-day on a Sunday. We thought we would avoid… Read more
  • 2.0 star rating
    4/16/2009

    I can only agree with some previous comments: Guys, Tapas ??? Have you ever tried REAL tapas ?  Even in London I get much better ones.

    Patatas bravas - supposed to be crispy, spicy, flavoury - but what do we get here ? Pre-cooked potatos with a sauce fresh from the 3 gallon dispenser.

    Squid ? Take your left hand side front tire off your car , cut it up, chuck it in the pan, cook it for 10mins, and it will taste better.

    Where is the love ? Spanish cooking is about love of food, bit of oil, sea-salt, peper , sprinkled over it  - but not what I tasted here tonight.

    Sangria ? What the call Sangria here the spanish probably use to do their washing up. Its cheap wine with fruit, not more , not less.

    Service is ok, not overly friendly, they keep the food (and sangria) coming and clear the table in an ok-ish manner.

    Its hard to understand why its that busy - its something, but def no authentic spanish tapas.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/8/2011

    This place is so much fun to come to.  And the food is delicious!  It is such a great place to go with a larger group!  The wait can be long, but it is worth it.  I've been here a few times, and the food is always soo good, the sangria is the best I've had in the city, and the paella..Yum! We've come here with just 2 people, and we've come here with 10.  The menu can satisfy almost anyone, and it is relatively inexpensive.  For the buckets of food and the multiple pitchers of sangria our group of 10 ordered, it ended up coming in around $20 pp.  Even after ordering seconds...

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/1/2008

    I went here for a bon voyage party for one of my close friends.  

    We started the meal with what else but pitchers of red and white sangria!  It was the most perfect sangria I have ever tasted.  Smooth and fruity, just the way I like it.

    Then because we had such a large group, we ordered one of everything off the menu.  There wasn't one thing that wasn't delicious.  I would definitely recommend this place, since a little bite of everything goes a long way!  Cheers!

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/8/2011

    This place is amazing! Some of the best spanish food I've ever had in my life. It's not as casual as most places but the food and the service was outstanding. Highly recommend getting the Spanish style eggs with sausage and fries.

  • 1.0 star rating
    11/22/2010

    TOO LOUD!  Sadly the food is delicious but I will never go back.  Couldn't they at least section off a quieter room somewhere?  I bet people would line up to enjoy a dinner and talk...

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/28/2010

    We went to Iberico for a work team outing, and we had a great time.  They had no problem accommodating our group of 20 people, and we were all able to sit at one table.

    The menu was traditional Spanish tapas and was very tasty.  The sangria was good and full of fresh fruit.  Portions are good for sharing, and individual dishes can easily be shared by 3-4 people.  The wait staff was very attentive and gave recommendations for the tapas newbies in our group.  I look forward to coming back to this place

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/7/2010

    I have been hearing about tapas bars for a while now and am glad to say that i finally went to one. This was the first time I've ever tried tapas but knew exactly what they were before i went there. A group of us went there recently for dinner on a Friday night. One thing i didn't realize about the place was that there was two levels to the restaurant and the top level had a different menu than the bottom level. We didn't really know the difference so we just stayed on the bottom floor. We were all guessing though that the top level had pricier selections. It looked pretty busy there but we were sat right away, but it was really loud so it was kind of difficult hearing each other talk at the table. They had a variety of different drinks to choose from, but my boyfriend and I opted to order a pitcher of the red sangria to drink through out dinner and we had no problem finishing that baby off lol it was really good.

    Their menu is divided up into cold tapas, hot tapas, entrees, and deserts. Since tapas are smaller servings served family style you normally order a couple to share, that way you get to try an assortment of different dishes. We agreed to order 2 tapas; 1 cold and 1 hot. i picked the cold one which was a plate of spanish style cured ham with manchego cheese and tomato bread (which was kind of like a crostini that was topped with seasoned tomatoes). He chose the hot one. I can't remember the name of it but it was kind of a disappointment. the menu description said potatoes in a paprika wine sauce with sausage only for us to find out that "with sausage" basically means they only add a couple of chucks for flavor. The food came out a lot faster than i though it would and was not bad, but nothing spectacular. Some other things ordered at our table were grilled squid, beef tenderloin, and pork with chimichuri all of which were pretty good too. We tried some different desserts on the menu too and my favorite was the chocolate flan with strawberry sauce. it was realllyy good.

    Like i said the service was fast and the staff seemed nice. When we weren't particularly thrilled with the potato tapa we asked our server, curiously, if that was how it was supposed to be made and brought out. She explained that she would get her manager even though it wasn't that big of a deal. the manager explained that that's just how it was prepared and asked us if we would like another order of it. we declined but said that you. Turns out that she had another one sent out on the house which was very nice. There is a lot to be said for a restaurant who takes care of their customers.

    I would probably want to try another tapas place before i came back there again, but would be willing to give it another shot in the future and will def try out some of the seafood or paella.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/28/2008

    Once when talking about tapas to a friend, he said, "well, we prefer Cafe Iberico to Cafe Babareeba, as they are truly more authentic."  And yes, I know that Iberico is a great place, but somehow it doesn't hold the sparkle of Babareeba for me.   The food is always great, and really cheap; and I don't mind the wait.  But I don't really like the bench tables in the other room.  And sorry, but for some reason I get a little skeeved out when I sit in the downstairs eating area - I keep expecting to see a crawling critter - AND no, I have never seen one!  But I just get that feeling.

    The most enjoyable times I have had here are when we actually score a table or stools in the bar, and we drink sangria and eat there.  So if you have not ventured in here, you must try it and see for yourself!

    Bonus: they actually do show cable tv from Spain here.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/4/2009

    Hands down, the most solid tapas place in the downtown area. I have been here at least a half dozen times with all different types of groups in sizes ranging from 2 - 10. This place is a great group dinner place where everyone will always have a chance to order at least one thing of their liking. Nothing is fancy about their dishes, they are all pretty typical tapas. I enjoy the beef skewers, grilled octopus, mussels, **Queso de cabra**, jamon iberico, and others. Don't worry about ordering everything at once, It only takes a short time to get the orders out.

    In addition to all that they have great sangria (try both the red and white) for so cheap.

    Any time I've gone with a group i have tried (and failed) to break the $30 mark (WITH TIP!). Now that always leaves a good taste in your mouth. Good work Iberico!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/7/2008
    Listed in Best Eats

    The food here is outstanding.  My favorite tapas bar in Chicago thus far.  The patatas alo-oli is to die for.  I actually slapped my boyfriend's hand away when he tried to eat some. An argument ensued.

    It was my birthday weekend so the waitress brought me a dessert in the shape of male anatomy.  Best dessert ever.  

    They don't do reservations on Saturday nights, but it didn't take too long for our party (6 people) to get seated.  The bar area is definitely a great place to kill time.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/16/2008

    Restaurants that don't take reservations are just below the American Girl Store on the list of things that chap my ass.

    I refuse to go to Cafe Iberico during prime hours and wait for a table, but for a lunch or a random meal during non-peak hours, the place is good. Their tapas seem a bit more 'authentic' than some of their competitors, but then again I have never had authentic tapas so I have no idea what I am talking about. I guess the vibe of the restaurant makes me think that. Hm, I sound retarded.

    At any rate, the tapas at CI are consistently good. The service has always been iffy, and by iffy I mean slow. The prices are reasonable, even if you get sangria with your meal (and how could you not?).

    Menu highlights include the patatas bravas, almejas en salsa verde, queso de cabra (even though I am not a huge goat cheese lover), croquetas de pollo and chorizo y morcilla. And of course sangria.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/23/2009

    To be fair, my review of this restaurant might be slightly biased.  I am a fan of food that must be shared with your dining companions- Indian, Sushi and dim sum- so Tapas fits right in.  
    The baked goat cheese is delicious, although if you mess this up you really must not know what you are doing.  I have tried everything on this menu and have not been dissapointed once.
    This place is great to start a fun night out.  It is always packed and very loud.  The food is consistently good and the sangrias are yummy!
    They could use additional bathrooms, though.
    By the way, the weird music videos they play on the TVs trip me out!

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/28/2011

    Hands down the best sangria for the price in the entire city.   This unique space has a very eastern europen feel, from the foreign music videos, to the decorations, to the clientele.   The tapas are good to at a reasonable price, but to be honest I rarely come to eat and usually split a pitcher of Sangria with some friends.  I was a little perturbed by the fact that they brew the sangria in gigantic rubber garbage cans, but I am sure they have been used for no other purpose.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/27/2008

    Lots of great tasting tapas! The atmosphere is a bit loud though, but the wait staff is great.  The place gets pretty packed during happy hour/dinner hours. Prices are reasonable.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/15/2011

    Get the potato salad, the smoked salmon, the mussels, the sangria, and anything else you can possibly handle in one sitting.  Bustling, crowded, fun dining.  I make sure I make at least one trip to this restaurant every time I am in Chicago.

  • 2.0 star rating
    2/13/2008

    For the love of God, please provide serving spoons!

    I have been to Cafe Ibericho several times, most recently just this past Saturday.  I've never been a huge fan of this restaurant, but it's a great place to go with large groups if you ever worry about people not putting in their fair portion of food, tax and tip.

    We probably chose the worst possible day to go given that it was the weekend right before Valentines Day, no reservations could be made, and it was frigging cold.  We crossed our fingers that the cold may have kept others indoors...but we had no such luck, our group of eight still had to endure an hour wait.  

    The restaurant was packed worse than sardines.  We were able to get drinks while we waited at the bar without too much trouble, and 45 minutes into our wait time a waiter walked around with a plate of Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes) and toothpicks for appetizers.

    We chose 21 dishes and 3 desserts between the eight of us.  It was more than enough food to go around.  The plates that I thought were the most appetizing were their Champinones a la Plancha (marinated mushrooms), Patatas Ali-Oli (garlic potato salad), Gambas al ajillo ( garlic shrimp), Ensalada De Pimientos Asados ( roasted peppers and toast), and also their braised leg of lamb which was the special of the day.  I definitely do not recommend any of their chicken dishes, and definitely pass on the sausage plate.  Nothing was especially to die for and I would never go out of my way to eat here.  With drinks, our total equaled $30 a person including tax and tip.

    What I find strange is that only the busboys bring the food to your tables.  The wait staff only comes by to take your order or to check on your table.  I felt awful seeing these men carry 12 steaming hot plates along the length of their arms.  I hope they are tipped out handsomely.

    What I find disgusting about this place is that they do not provide serving spoons.  Yes, tapas are meant to be shared and passed, but I have always been raised not to use the fork or spoon that touches my mouth onto a plate that is shared.  Even though all of us are good friends, I still don't like the concept of not having a serving spoon.  Lo and behold, my mother raised me well.  It is now Wednesday and all 8 of us have the flu.  We are congested, feverish, and we have all been hacking something fierce, our noses are runny, and we have water in our lungs.  4 of us have called in sick twice already.  Thanks.  Thanks a heck of a lot.

    P.S.  They only accept reservations during the day, and good luck finding parking...anticipate $10 valet parking plus tip.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/7/2008

    I guess I'll go four stars, even though I'm not sure it deserves it or if I was just hungry. I'd been here years ago, but was scared of waiting in a tremendously long line, so didn't go back until yesterday. Anyway, I prefer Babareeba's, and probably Emilio as well.

    I'm not going to draw a graph like someone did for their review. If you can't deal with that, then just skip over this review.

    We got the salad, tortilla, calamari, scallops, queso de cabra (goat cheese), and pincho de solomillo (the meat on the stick which I didn't actually see on the menu). Then we got two desserts. It was me (fat kid) and two ladies (light eaters), so that was enough food.

    Everything was tasty, except the pincho de solomillo (not even served with horseradish - the horror), but the scallops and calamari were VERY good. I didn't like the sangria very much. For dessert we had the banana with caramel which was wicked awesome, despite the disturbingly phallic presentation. We also got flan, which was disappointing imo.

    I would go back if it's convenient, but I wouldn't wait in line for two hours.

    Edit 5/31/08: They're losing one star and are lucky it's not two. They told us our wait would be 20 minutes. After half an hour we went back to check why we hadn't been called. They kept saying we were next as they sat people. Over and over. Don't really appreciate being lied to. I also didn't enjoy some things this time. The seafood salad was pretty gross and the pincho de solomillo just isn't good (wish I'd remembered from my last visit). There's no horseradish and the meat isn't tender. The only thing that saved this meal was the grilled octopus. It was amazing!

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    4/10/2009

    I love Cafe Iberico!  I lived in Spain and know authentic tapas when I taste it and Iberico is as close at it gets in Chicago.  The paella reminds me of my favorite place in Plaza Reial in Barcelona.  To top if off, it is very affordable and the atmosphere is great for a group...just make sure to go early on weekends or be prepared to wait since they do not take reservations.  I've heard many good things about the bar though, so that might be a good place to wait.

    Finally, for anyone complaining about the size of the tapas...that is what tapas are supposed to be like and any place that serves up huge filling tapas is abandoning the whole point of a tapa.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/28/2008
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    I really, really liked this place!

    Some of the highlights-
    -$15 pitchers of Sangria
    -The oyster special was wonderful
    -the Potato and Tuna Salad- yumm!
    - Not kitchy or Disney-fied- it feels like an authentic Tapas place
    -prices are reasonable
    -service was great

    A few drawbacks-
    - no reservations
    - timing on serving dishes a little off.
    -sometimes its a mob-scene and takes forever to be seated.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/17/2011

    The sangria is so good! i went with a group of 5 girls and we ordered about 8 different tapas and we got full of it and only spent $20 each!!!  My favorite was the skirt steak with mashed potato and the gambas al ajillo!!! i can't wait to go back!

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/3/2011
    1 check-in

    my favorite tapas restaurant!

    i LOVE their spinach salad.

    everything else is really good too.

    i love how their complimentary birthday/bachelor dessert is phallic. haha

    service is always up to par.

    sangria.. i've had better.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/3/2008

    Food here defines AVERAGE.

    Went here with no expectations, so Cafe Iberico had all the chance to impress me but they chose not to.

    According to Wiki:
    "In mathematics, an average, or central tendency of a data set refers to a measure of the "middle" or "expected" value of the data set."

    Let me break this down for you, using the following graph:

    5*     |______________________  !COULD BE PART OF LAST MEAL!
             |
             |
             |    (1)
    3*     |_____(2)__(3)___________  ?AVERAGE?
             |                               (4)    (5)
             |
             |                              
    1*     |______________________    ;HORRIBLE;

           
           (1) TORTILLA ESPAOLA: Only dish that was slightly above average.

           (2) CROQUETAS DE POLLO: Didn't taste any chicken or ham. Description should really say, "Fried stuff w/ gooey center!" Tasted ok.

           (3)  MEJILLONES A LA MARINERA: Really plump mussels in a tomatoey broth. Again just ok, broth could have used more seasoning.

           (4) GAMBAS AL AJILLO: Sorry looking shrimps!

           (5) CREMA CATALANA: Wasn't impressed

    I don't think this place wants to impress anyone, am not just talking food...am talking everything here, ambiance, utensils, table oil, bread, bathrooms.

    I guess they are just happy to be AVERAGE.

  • 1.0 star rating
    3/11/2012

    What is all the hype about? Service severely lacked, atmosphere was much more of a  "fast food tapas" joint than anything, and the food was NOT THAT GOOD.  Of the four dishes we ordered (and we typically order much more than four at other tapas places) only one was okay. The others were odd tasting, over cooked, or just "meh."   For $8 or $9 a plate - that was very unfortunate. We love Cafe Ba Ba Reeba and always wanted to try Cafe Iberico. Well, we tried it and we're sticking with Cafe Ba Ba Reeba.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/29/2008

    i liked the scal......

    OONZ OONZ OONZ

    Huh? What was that?

    OONZ OONZ OONZ

    I said...I LIKED THE SCALLOPS!!!

    Yep, the music was loud and the scallops were good, but the rest of our food was mediocre at best, and the sangria was made from what I can only guess was the best Ernest & Julio Gallo vintage they could find in a large format bottle.

    I can definitely see why the large groups of club goers love it in here, but since I'm over that scene I'll skip it on my next trip to Chicago.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/17/2008

    So my brother the chef comes into town for the week and wants to treat us to food.  He wants us to pick a nice restaurant that we've always wanted to try.  On him.  Well I'm not going to go all out and spend my little brother's money but we always wanted to try tapas and who better than a chef to go with?  

    Loved it!  We tried about 10 altogether. They even prepared goat cheese in a way that my cheese hatin' partner loved and would have eaten more of if she wasn't so full.  Their rices were amazing!  And the portions were huge for the little bitty price - which was nice for a party of 3 sharing everything.  One thing that always turned me off of a lot of tapas places is that they have so much fish on the menu which we don't eat (insert bad lesbian joke here) and Iberico had so many non-fish items to choose from!

    My only complaint were the drinks.  Although the white sangria tasted good I don't think there was much of the wine part of it.  And the margaritas were just okay.  But the food made up for the drinks!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/9/2011

    Really good food, great prices, fun atmosphere.  We can with a really big group (about 20 people), and it worked out beautifully.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/15/2011

    I've been going to Cafe Iberico for about 12 years and always have had a good experience. The ambiance and food are great. The red sangria has lost its flare over the years, but still good. IBERICO FAVs: PATATAS ALI-OLI (GARLIC POTATOES), SALPICON DE MARISCO (SEAFOOD SALAD), PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO (BEEF SKEWERS), QUESO DE CABRA (GOAT CHEESE WITH MARINARA SAUCE), GAMBAS AL AJILLO (GARLIC SHRIMP) and MEJILLONES A LA MARINERA (MUSSELS). I will say the only thing that I don't like about the restaurant is the inability to make reservations especially when you have larger parties.

  • 1.0 star rating
    7/9/2008

    This had to be one of my worst first impressions of a restaurant in my life. We went on a Tuesday night, around 6:30pm - not exactly prime dining time.

    As we entered the place, a waiter carrying multiple glasses of soda almost spilled them on us as he used the foyer as a shortcut into the dining area.

    Then we entered. The first thing I noticed was the floor... broken/cracked vinyl tile. Ick.

    The second thing I noticed as we walked into the dining room was the NOISE. Definitely not conducive to dating if you actually want to talk to your partner.

    The third thing was the most disconcerting - the smell. And no, it wasn't a nice food smell. The place smelled like it had been washed, from walls to floors to table tops, with a dirty bacteria-laden mop or dishcloth.   The smell was so distracting that we started losing our appetite.

    The place was filled with families and the table next to us (10 people) were letting their 5 year olds run around, even bumping into my chair. Seriously, I felt like I was at McDonald's.

    A waiter finally came and took our drink order, and then we waited 15 minutes for our drinks! I had taken the waiter's suggestion and ordered a Cosmo, but it was terrible. It tasted like water mixed with vodka and red food coloring.

    After waiting for another 10 minutes for the waiter to return to take our food order, we had had enough. We left a $20 on the table, walked out, and had a GOOD dinner with great ambiance at Wildfire.

    Maybe the food tastes good and the prices are cheap (thus it has turned into a family place), but I'll never find out because I won't be returning.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/13/2011

    There is nothing special about this place.  We ordered a bunch of tapas. Flavours were OK, average like the service. We had a big table (for about 10 - 12 persons).  The waiter was nice but he was not able to manage well the ordering. He was keeping forgetting to bring to the table the ordered items. Insted of focusing on our table he was talking to his workmates.  It is my second time when i stop by this tapas place. NOT IMPRESSED.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/3/2010

    Why do people say this is the best tapas restaurant in the city?  Seriously? I'm basing this off of a few visits in the past few years, but the food here just leaves a lot to be desired.  The loud basement and spotty service also doesn't help much.  I've had the Iberico paella, croquettas, sangria, the goat cheese and tomato sauce dish, and a few other staple tapas and they've all been very average to below average.  I've have much better tapas at Cafe Babareeba, Tapas Gitana and People Lounge.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/27/2008
    1 check-in

    I miss this place sooooooo much. I moved from my hometown of Chicago and it has not been the same. No tapas places can compare to Cafe Iberico. I've been here dozens of times and love it each time. It's a great place to go when you're with a bunch of friends, or even on a date. It's not pretentious or fancy, just casual and welcoming. The tapas menu is huge and it's so affordable. Every time we leave, we're so full and can't believe how little we've spent. My favorite item has to be the scallops. I can't seem to find that anywhere here in the Boston area. The sangria is fresh and delicious and the caramel banana desert is so good.
    If you go on a Fri or Sat night, be ready to wait in line because it's really busy. They do not take reservations for small parties.

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/7/2011

    I would have been very disappointed but drinks were involved. I did not enjoy the menu selection but the Sangria & Bread did me just fine.. If you are looking for good Sangria I would say give it a try....

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/26/2010

    Rustic tapas. I came here as part of an impromptu after work gathering, more in mind of having a glass of sangria than anything else. I'm not a huge fan of tapas, but the prices/portions were reasonable and made it easy to share. One major nit I had to pick was the hardness of the bread served with the tomato/goat cheese dip. I basically took one bite, and that was all I could handle. The place was surprisingly packed, for mid-week, and I felt the space could have been somewhat better used, as there was basically nothing going on at the front of the restaurant, apart from the TVs and a bar. More seating could have been placed here, to ease the hemmed in feeling of the back room/event space where we were seated. If it is a birthday you're celebrating, I believe they also throw in a complimentary dessert. Yelp is a family site, so I will only go as far as saying that the banana with two scoops of ice cream, whipped cream detailing and two candles in the ice cream scoops looked phallic, to say the least. Not sure if that is the traditional b-day dessert presentation or if kitchen staff were feeling extra creative. While not a place I would add to my rotation, I recommend Cafe Iberico for a lively, if not raucous, evening.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/11/2011

    Overall I'm a fan....the food was really good (definitely try the octopus!!), prices were reasonable, and it's in a good location.  The dining area is less than visual pleasing, but whatever....chalk it up to being vintage.  The wait staff was definitely less than impressive....which is my reason for going with 4 stars instead of 5.  I'll go back, but I'll need to figure out which wait staff are a bit more timely and on their game than the guy I had when I went last time.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/4/2009

    I've eaten at Iberico probably dozens of times since I moved to Chicago ten years ago.  The first time I went, I'd never even heard of tapas.  I liked the atmosphere, the drinks, the food, and I still do.  

    Since my first exposure, I've actually traveled in Spain and like Iberico even more.  It's quite authentic, from the dishes to the bread to the sangria.  And even though their prices are higher than they were when I first went, it's still a good value for the money.  It's great for groups, and it's even good for solo diners if you get there at a time when the bar actually still has a seat free.

    Service can, at times, be spotty, but it's generally quite good and I don't really expect perfect service at this price point anyway.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/8/2008

    Good, but not great. I'd go back for the sangria which was plentiful and potent.

    I wasn't super impressed by the tapas though. They were good and very reasonably priced, but I wouldn't go downtown for this again unless I was meeting friends for drinks. It was also very crowded and loud. The place was so big you felt like you might get lost on the way to the bathroom.

    Service was good, but again, not my favorite.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/7/2011

    After finding out our reservation at Terragusto which was made 10 days in advanced had been cancelled without our knowledge, I quickly called this place to see if they could seat a party of 8 last minutes, as I heard great things about it. They were extremely accommodating and it was great for our larger than normal group. The food was excellent and everyone had a wonderful time! The Paella there was incredible! But be warned the pan it comes in is extremely hot! Its definitely one of the better Tapas Bars in Chicago and I highly recommend it!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/16/2010

    Delicious!  My favorite was actually the spanish omelette appetizer, so definitely reco to try that if you've never had it.  Sangria is excellent too :).  Tehre are over 800 other reviews, and it has 4 stars on average, so it must be good!

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/11/2008

    I don't know what the big deal is about this place. It's beyond crowded...elbow to elbow standing up waiting for a table, trying not to spill your drink is not my idea of fun. The food was just so-so. Parking was a biaaatch. I swear this place is just popular cuz the people that want to be popular go here...it's like a mega high school reunion....except everyone went to a different school. No thanks.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/25/2010

    The map on Yelp is really misleading because it's wrong. I'd suggest Google Mapping it beforehand so you have a better idea of where it is. Went here with a bunch of co-workers and really like it. Although try not getting seated upstairs near the deli area, it's really hot up there. The tapas come out in a pretty good sized portions (bigger than Cafe Babareeba, which I also like) and at a decent price. Paella is definitely a good price and pretty tasty so I'd recommend ordering some. A lot of my co-workers like the goat cheese. I liked a lot of the dishes especially the squid ones. White sangria was also delicious. I'd definitely recommend Cafe Iberico for good tapas.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/26/2008

    I have been to my share of tapas restaurants but this one by far takes the cake.  They have awesome sangria and really good food.  Their pallela is fantastic.  

    There can be some wait for a table but trust me its worth it.  It is also open late so you can grab food.  

    If your looking for tapas in river north hit this place UP!

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/27/2008

    Oh, Yelp, for the first time you let me down!

    I will start off my review by saying that I have high standards for Tapas joints due to my recent visit to Twist. Oh, Cafe Iberico, you let me down. THE SHAME.

    First of all, noise just reverberates in this place. My friend and I were screaming across the table to each other, and even then we had trouble hearing. There was a severe miscommunication at one point which resulted in him thinking I had asked him to be my maid of honor (I just got engaged). That was awkward.

    There was this gigantic douche face who was sitting at the table across from us who was squeaking his shoes on the floor (you know how converse squeak on tile?) and it was VERY loud. Eardrum pinching loud. I would flinch every time he did that, it was genuinely annoying. The servers didn't do anything about it. They just stood around waiting for him to stop, even though most everyone on our side of the restaurant was visibly annoyed.

    We got a goat cheese/tomato sauce tapa to start off with. It came with little buttered pieces of bread. Pretty good...although Twist was better.

    We both got different kinds of paella for our main course. What they lacked in taste/imagination they made up for in size. It was basically a big ass, bland bowl of rice, veggies, and a stick of butter. Huge let down.

    I'm not impressed with this place. At all.

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/23/2008

    I have been coming here for years..........It seems though that Ive had better esperiences when I first started coming here.
    Mind you I have been to this place about 20+ times in my life, no lie!
    This was the pre-party spot years ago for me and my friends.
    But recently it seems way too packed And going during the weekend is out of the question.
    BUT the food is still good, and my "Pulpo a la plancha( octopus)" is as tasty as ever. The Shrimp in garlic is also good! and the "Patatas bravas" have always had their nice little kick!
    Shake & bake seal of approval none the less!

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/22/2012

    I use to come here a lot in the past .  I went last week with a few friends and my in-laws. The overall experience was disappointing.  The only good thing was the sangria.  They didn't give us bread until about and hour of us being seated.  No olive oil.  I asked for butter for my mom and they brought back a huge cold  rock hard pat.  They forgot to bring out dishes we ordered.  I felt like we were waited on by bus boys.  The fries with all the dishes were limp and tasted old.  Patatas brava was awful, not warm, too salty, just a mess,yuk, shrimp not tasty.  The food seem to lack flavor and the service lacked concern.

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/27/2012

    I have been here twice ... and yes, the sangria is great but the food is not. The first time I went for dinner and we ordered a bunch of plates and they were all unmemorable.  Not to mention that our last plate was brought out after we had paid and were about to get up to leave... I had a feeling something was missing, so instead of asking if we still wanted it, the food was instead brought out with to go bags... like I want to bring home goat cheese crostinis home, NO. The second time I went my friend asked me there for lunch and I reluctantly went... and honestly, the only thing that stands out from that meal was this hotdog looking thing that  had a mushy texture and I don't like that... and the scallops, which were actually good.  The last thing that I have to say is, when I went for lunch, the place was empty like two or three tables in the middle were full and then one table by the window with two men... and if you have been there you know the dining area is huge... so we get sat right by these two men who are trying to negotiate with the manager the whole time about a catering order and the price and if they will or will not deliver to the location and which food they would be able to order and on and on and on and on and 40 min later... they didn't even order anything and I am pretty sure they went there for free samples or something... I feel like, why couldn't we have been sat a table over bc it was empty. This is a case where the place is busy because of the location.

  • 1.0 star rating
    7/23/2012

    Cool atmosphere but food was very bland.  I love Spanish food so I was excited to get the paella but it was horrible: the rice wasn't cooked right, you couldn't even taste any saffron, some of the seafood was burnt and the veggies were clearly from a frozen bag.  The other dishes were pretty bad too.  Spicy potatoes were ok, but nothing like Spain.   Service was good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/20/2012
    Listed in Good Food

    I went to this place pre-Chelsea Handler show at the Chicago Theater, and what a pair. What a great night with great food, friends, and comedy! Highly recommend the Sangria (by the pitcher) and those spicy potato tapas. Yum! Wish I saved room for dessert, definitely next time!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/29/2008

    I would say this is a fun place to go for good eats and drinks. The food is not bad, with few nice dishes to choose from. I am not wowed by them, but they are tasty and paired with a pitcher of sangria, it goes down well.

    I recommend to octapus, griled shrimp, and crepe desserts.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/23/2010 Updated review

    Third time at Iberico and the tapas were good but the service was just not the greatest.     My last visit, waters were served right away and our server came to take our drink orders before we even got a chance to settle in.   Tapas dishes also came out quick.     This time around, service was not as quick or thorough.    We asked for water probably 6 times and the server kept saying he would bring it but never did.   It took forever before he took our drink order and another long time to come back and tell us that they were out of the sparking pinot noir.    The food did not come out right away and it was not even busy.   When the food did come out, our tongues were burning from the patatas bravas and still no water.    I got up to get water from the bartender, who completely ignored me.   We asked the waiter again, who said he would have it for us but still nothing.  Finally got water from someone clearing the table next to us.     I know the service is reflection of the server we had and not the restaurant overall so I still give this place 4 stars.   Other than service received, we were quite pleased with the dishes ordered.

    Patatas Bravas - Still think the potatoes need to be fried more but it could just be how they make it.   My preference is to fry potatoes more based on how I've had at other tapas joints.

    Patatas Alioli - Still my favorite dish and was perfect and refreshing dish to have on a warm summer evening.

    Pincho de Solomillo - Smaller cuts compared to when I had it the first visit and not as tender

    Almejas en Salsa Verde - good sauce, clams not overcooked

    Chorizo y Morcilla - not bad but have had better chorizo at other tpas restaurants.

    Pulpo a la Plancha - Octopus cooked perfectly but there were more fries than octopus, which wasn't the case last time.  Pieces of octopus were also small.

    Chocolate Flan - didn't look as good as it tasted

    4.0 star rating
    6/14/2010 Previous review
    I love tapas and after trying Cafe Iberico for the second time, it is definitely one of the better… Read more
  • 3.0 star rating
    5/4/2008

    I've been here several times! It's really the atmosphere and sangria, not the food, that keeps this place ridiculously busy every weekend night. It's open late (I think until 1 am) on weekends. You can easily wait over an hour to get a table here. The bar is verrrry crowded and kind of in an awkward place right when you walk in. It's hard to find parking in the area too.

    So why go here at all? The sangria is very good - they have both red and white sangria. I do wish they had more flavored sangrias though (like Cafe Ba Ba Reeba). It's a happening spot, always a lot of young professionals. The potatos bravas here are the best I've had at a Chicago tapas restaurant. The paella wasn't very good though.  The rest of the menu is okay, but gets better with every sip of sangria.

    Anyway, go, see it for yourself. It's worth at least one visit!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/22/2008
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    You know how people talk about having that kind of friend that they can go without seeing for months or years, and when they meet up again it's like no time has passed?  Maybe there's a different hairstyle, or they've been exercising and look really good, but aside from the minor differences, the two of them pick up like they talked yesterday.  Well Cafe Iberico is like that.

    The Sadie and I love Cafe Iberico.  We'd probably eat there more often if we lived in River North or somewhere along LaSalle, Dearborn, or Clark streets.  As it is we try to eat there every couple of months, just so we catch up with our infrequently seen tapas friend.  Neither The Sadie nor I are originally from Chicago.  And until I moved to Chicago, I'd never had tapas.  I'm an adventurous eater, but I'd never had the opportunity to try them.  So once The Sadie introduced me to them about 4 years ago, I've been smitten.  

    Typically our dinner will consist of the Sangria (buy a pitcher, it's more economical that way), and about 2-3 dishes.  We love the Jamon Iberico.  The Iberian ham is like pancetta or prosciutto and complements the tomato topped toast and Manchego cheese very well.  We also love the Raxo Adobodo (pork loin with fries) and the Pincho De Solomillo (skewed beef tenderloin).  The caramelized onions that come with the Pincho are dark and sweet and balance the beef exceptionally well.  We've tried the Patatas Ali-Oli and I found them too heavy with mayonnaise, and The Sadie was completely non-plussed, but I think it could be that the order came late in the meal.  

    Some of the other dishes I've tried and enjoyed are the Plato Combinado (Spanish coldcuts), the Salmon Ahumado (salmon w/ capers and a fresh dill cream.  Yummy!), Pincho de Pollo (skewered chicken w/ Spanish rice), Queso de Cabra (baked goat cheese), the Croquetas De Pollo (deep fried ham and chicken puffs), and Chorizo Y Morcilla (a combo platter of Spanish sausages.  One of my personal faves.)

    I love the flan at Cafe Ibrico and the Plantano al Caramelo (sauted banana w/ caramel sauce) is a favorite of The Sadie.

    Unfortunately there are a couple of drawbacks to dining at Cafe Iberico.  The first is planning when you go.  Early is always better.  After 5pm, the restaurant fills quickly with downtown workers (secretaries, office assistants, wage slaves, and cube dwellers).  Once this happens, the wait grows exponentially.  So if you go after 5pm, be aware of it.  

    Another drawback is the noise.  In most of the restaurant the ceiling is low and the walls are painted brick meaning that when the restaurant is full an average conversation has to be conducted at a near shout.  The large dining room on the north side of the restaurant really needs to cover the walls in some sort of heavy drapery to cut the noise to a manageable level.  The Sadie and I dined there early one Saturday (about 2:30 pm) and with only about 7 other tables occupied the volume was edging toward being too loud.

    The final drawback is the paucity of available restrooms.  Unfortunately, there's not a lot that can be done about that.

    The drawbacks aren't enough though to drastically impact my review.  They're really more of a collection of nuisances that if expected and planned for, don't affect your experience significantly.

    All-in-all, Cafe Iberico is an enjoyable, inexpensive place to dine, and a great place to take your out of town guests if you want to have some fun, some great food, and a memorable experience.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/5/2009

    Huge fan of this place. Great for tapas and happy hour. Taking a date here would be great as well. Very open atmosphere.  Their alcohol selection is wonderful. The Almejas (clams) is a must! Have a pitcher of white sangria to go with that too!  Location is convenient - on La Salle where you can find parking.

    Here's a link to a similar review which I think hit it right on the money:  chowbaby.com/weblog/inde…

    Enjoy Cafe Iberico!

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/10/2009

    Great place for a celebratory dinner.
    As soon as you walk through the door you FEEL like your in Spain. Ambiance is very festive..
    Best Best tapas in all of Chicago. Most authentic from what I hear..
    Very affordable and for a tapas joint, portions are bigger than normal.

    To be honest, we ordered so much I don't remember the specific names of each dish we had. All I can say is ALL of them were great.

    For dessert  I recommend trying Flan de Carmelo.  I don't even like flan but I guess I do now.

    Oh yea, let's not forget their very tasty and very strong pitchers of sangria for $14.

    Our experience with the staff was pretty good. Our server George did a very good job clearing plates, replacing pitchers and filling cups.

    I wouldn't recommend this place for dates. Place can get loud..

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/10/2008

    Loved it!

    Really good tapas and the seafood in all of the ones I tried tasted fresh and pretty good. The seafood paella was HUGE! I thought it was gonna be smaller.

    Had the red sangria which was refreshing.

    It was pretty loud in there for a Wednesday night and the wait (got in around 7:45ish) was a bit LONG. The place is HUGE, but for just the two of us, I felt like we were waiting forever. Just remember to check the TV screen for your name if you are being seated! =P

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/11/2011

    I'm really not sure what all the hype is about with this restaurant.  Based upon Yelp reviews you'd actually think this place is good.  We found it to be similar to a loud cafeteria with a bunch of packed in diners who, based upon reviews, must actually think this is good tapas.  It's not.  The food was mostly tasteless, the service mediocre at best, and the ambiance horrendous (i.e. there really is quite nothing like sitting next to a bathroom door that opened into the dining area all night).  Conversation is nearly impossible with the noise of the other diners and the equally loud dance videos playing to complete the mood.  The sangria is reasonable and that's a good thing because you'll need to drink plenty to tolerate the place.  Give it a pass as there are much better tapas places in a great food city like Chicago

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/11/2010
    Listed in Eh...

    I love tapas and Spanish culture in general. I came here with my husband and another couple. Their seafood tapas are the best by far.  Octopus, squid, and shrimp were all delicious. We tried some steak and pork tapas and they were pretty plain. Not bad tasting, just nothing special. Overall: diverse menu, good service and nice atmosphere.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/18/2009

    I've heard about this place for a while! I never did take the initiative to actually go there til last week. We ordered several tapas plus the seafood paella! It was amazzziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!

    I love the sangria! The waitress was amazing as well!

    I will definately come back here!

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • Start your review of Café Iberico.

    Rating
    • Eek! Methinks not.
    • Meh. I've experienced better.
    • A-OK.
    • Yay! I'm a fan.
    • Woohoo! As good as it gets!

    Select your rating.

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/10/2009

    I love Tapas. I like to try lots of different stuff and I like to eat too much.
    But I just don't care for Cafe Iberico.

    I've been told that it is more authentic than Cafe Babareba. But the only way its authentic is if authentic Spanish food isn't very good.

    I've eaten there twice recently once with 7 other people and once with just Amanda.

    I've had most of the dishes on the menu between the two recent visits.

    And I have to say that all of the dishes seemed kind of bland. Some even seemed kind of americanized.

    One special was a beef stew and I swear to god it was like Dinty Moore beef stew with slightly better beef chunks. There were no Spanish flavors. Nothing unusual. It was fine for beef stew but I would have hit up Bob Evans if that's what I wanted.

    It is one of the less expensive tapas places and their drinks, the sangria especially, are good and cheap. But when I go out to eat I go for the food.

    The atmosphere is nice. Very open a few tiers of seating, big windows, spanish television on the TV's. People are dressed in a wide range of outfits from fancy to t-shirts.

    I just can't highly recommend any of the tapas. Nothing stands out as significant.

    I have friends who vehemently disagree but for my taste, go to Cafe Babareeba.

    On a side note there is a good desert if you do go. The crepe filled with ice cream.
    Amanda and I ordered it, looked at the ice cream filled crepe with strawberry sauce, also known as the ice cream burrito, and thought: There' no way we're gonna finsih this. And then we finished it. No problem. It was simple but a really delicious combination of textures and flavors.

    I wish I liked it more for the price and location but I don't and can't recommend it.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/22/2008

    One of my new favorite places!  Even though we were seated in an area of the restaurant that reminded me of some southern Italian lady's kitchen (the dining room was much brighter on a Friday night than any other restaurant I've been too and there were shelves of various sam's club sized italian foods) and I ended up smelling like the kitche when I got home, I thought the food was amazing!  

    Let's see now...what didn't we order...?  Well, first off the sangria is cheap and delicious.  A whole pitcher is only $14 and strong enough to make everything said at the table that night a little funnier.  The croquetas were fried, doughy deliciousness with a mysterious special sauce that kept appearing in various dished throughout the night.  The salmon cakes were great, but the scallops with saphron rice were one of my favorites.  We ordered a few weekly special items such as the tostadas and stuffed zucchini which were great.  The garlic shrimp and the goat cheese with tomato sauce were the only two lackluster items we ordered, so I'd stay away from those (Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba has much better goat cheese!).  The potatoes with alioli sauce were cold (intentionally) but surprisingly delicious.  

    The dessets we ordered were the ice cream crepe with strawberry sauce and the banana dessert with caramel sauce and ice cream. Although they were both delicious, the banana dessert had much more flavor, but the crepe was very unique as it was stuffed with the ice cream.  Another plus, desserts were only $3.95!!  Total, we spent $90 before tip for a pitcher of sangria, 8 tapas plates, and 2 desserts.  A great value if you ask me, especially in such a convenient location!

    PS - Look to the restaurant's home page for reservations stipulations.  They don't take reservations for all hours despite what others have written on yelp.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/4/2011

    The foods in this Spanish tapas are great, from the grilled octopus, grilled lamb, grilled squid, and the paellas. I love this place,and it's on my must-visit list everytime I come to Chicago.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/17/2008

    I think I ate everything on the menu and it was all great.

    I Started with the Croquettes which were awesome, had some sliced meats, the Spicy Potatoes, which are pictured, were phenomenal and then had the goat cheese marinara which was lacking basil but still good and then ended up getting the Paella. I think the Paella was something like the everything paella as it had all the seafood, peas, etc, but also chicken and pork. There wasn't one thing on the menu which I wouldn't order again. The sangria was good as well and the valet parking was only $10 which isn't bad for downtown.

    Now the problems:

    Having a restaurant that doesn't take reservations makes about as much sense as having a restaurant that doesn't serve food. That being said, we had a large group so we got there at a round 6:30 and before I could finish my first mini-picher of Sangria we had been seated. Not only was it way crowded with the "couldn't get into Gibson's" crowd but it was at least 400 degrees in side and I had to go wife beater which ended up being a little out of place. Not only that but there were these little tiny gnat like bugs which kept flying in front of my face which isn't all that appealing when you are trying to eat. Apparently due to the extreme temperatures the bugs didn't realize that it was winter and haven't gone into hibernation yet.

    Unless you have some sort of fatal disease which forces you to eat Tapas or Paella at 8:30 on a Saturday night, I would avoid this place during peak hours unless you aren't at all hungry, want to stand around with no place to sit and get shit canned on Sangria.

    Otherwise, the food is great and I highly recommend Iberico.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/2/2011
    1 check-in

    Ufff.  At 6'8" and 250 lbs I thought I could eat a bunch, but I left this place wishing I had a bigger stomach.  Everything ordered was very good, from the patatas bravas to the croquetas de pollo.  I will be back here next time I am in Chicago.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/24/2011

    Just a warning, not about the restaurant, but about the directions. Cafe Iberico is NOT where it is pictured on the map. It IS at 739 N La Salle St, but that address is between Superior and Chicago. So anyway, great place, just don't go by the YELP map!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/4/2009
    Listed in Latin Gems

    I give Cafe Iberico the Most-Authentic-Tapas-Joint Award.

    I love this place!! They've got it all. The cured queso, the aceitunas, the patatas ali-oli, the gambas, the paella, the croquetas... and of course... the Staple Food of Spain: Patatas Bravas.

    I've never had anything I didn't like at Cafe Iberico. It all tastes so familiar, like I'm traveling through the Andalucia again. And it's especially nice to wash it all down with an ice cold Cruz Campo.... Oh, the memories!

    Did I mention it's relatively inexpensive? I am always surprised by the large portions of food as our plates hit the table, which is then followed by a shockingly small tab. Total Bonus!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/30/2008

    I suffer from this problem of my eyes being hungrier than my stomach.  Hence why I am typically full when leaving this place.  I always think Tapas = little and order twice as much food.  I come here pretty infrequently but have always been happy with the food, sangria, and price.  Though I think that Cafe Ba Ba Reeba in LP is better, I like that I can get more bang for my buck here.

    Get the: Patatas Bravas, Baked Goat Cheese (my fave), Mushrooms with garlic, Salmon (entree), Crepe with ice cream and strawberries.
    *Skip the paella - for the wait not worth it.  

    Be prepared to wait on the weekends (dinner) - grab a drink and try to relax with the 30+ other people waiting for their tables.  If you have large groups (6+) you can call ahead and reserve a table.  Otherwise, I would recommend coming here for lunch on the weekends - no wait and you still get to enjoy the sangria!

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/5/2009

    I have nothing terrible to say about Cafe Iberico, but for some reason did not LOVE the restaurant.  I don't know if it is my snobby San Franciscan upbringing (foodie-wise) or if I haven't hit up the right joints yet, but Chicago restaurants leave a lot to be desired when it comes to service and ambiance.  Cafe Iberico falls right into line with this observation.

    Cafe Iberico's food was very good but there was no thought to presentation.  The service was amateur at best and the restaurant decor and ambiance were severely lacking.  The hostess tried to first sit us in a cafeteria-like room with linoleum floors and fluorescent lighting...we politely asked to be seated in the main dining room, which was a bit more inviting with softer lighting.  However even the main dining room was a distracting, loud and cold space.  As a whole, the dining experience was not all that enjoyable and I don't think I will be going back.

    I think Cafe Iberico would do its food justice by upgrading its decor and lighting - both were sub-par and served as distractions from the food, which was actually somewhat delicious.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/23/2008

    My first experience at Cafe Iberico was a work function and even though I disliked most of the people I was with, I loved the food and I was hooked.  I don't come here very often, mostly because I like to avoid drunken wage workers and this place, though huge, fills up fast and becomes v. loud, what with all the drunken clatter.

    When I do make it to the restaurant.I tend to order the same items each time because I love them so much and I can recommend them without reservations- Jambon Iberico, the pork loin, the beef tenderloin and the croquettes.  The only thing I've not been crazy about is the special potatoes. Special, my ass.  

    It's also a good place to bring out of town guests since if the conversation gets stuck, you won't have long to wait for another dish to be brought out and you can discuss how deelish everything is.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/25/2008

    A group of friends went to cafe iberico after the tree lighting on Michigan Ave - mistake!!  The place was packed and the tables were way too close together -- hard to move!  They also don't take reservations on the weekends.  We waited about thirty minutes for a table.

    Was it worth the wait?  I'd lean more towards yes.  Why?  The FOOD WAS GREAT!  We had a great selection too, from goat cheese to calamari to their signature iberico paella.  Very, very, very good!  And dessert wasn't bad either.  The poached pears were not as sweet as I had hoped but the chocolate filled sponge cake was delicious.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/8/2009

    GREAT PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING FOOD!!!!!!!!! GREAT ATMOSPHERE!!!! GREAT GREAT GREAT!
    Obviously I can't hide my enthusiasm about this place!!! I loved everything about it, the food is perfectly cooked (the Octopus is a MUST - tender and tasty, not at all gummy like you get it at other places). The staff was very nice, you MUST get the Sangria too!! Very good! Tiramisu to kill for! And, most of all, very reasonably priced. Loved it!

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/8/2009

    Went here on the account of the good reviews.

    I thought the Sangria was well priced for a pitcher - I think it was $18  - although I thought for as much as we drank they were pretty weak (or maybe I have a high tolerance?) We waited at the bar for 35 minutes to be seated which was fine once we got a seat and our sangria. When we were told the wait (this was a saturday night) they said 30-40 minutes and said we could go up to some other restaurant upstairs that has the same Sangria and I think slightly different cheaper looking food. They were trying to sell it too hard  and seemed kinda sketchy about it so we said we'd wait.

    We ordered 2 hot tapas and some paella between two people and it was a decent amount of food. We got shrimp, mushrooms, and the iberico paella - they were all decent - nothing stellar. There were like 5 shrimps...ok...a ton of mushrooms which were good, and the paella was good. My main complaint was that everything came out separately - like mm let me eat my two shrimp then 20 minutes later my paella...then another 20 minutes later my mushrooms... Maybe its just me but I thought the whole point of tapas was that they came out at the same time and shared a bunch of different ones with people? Wait staff was slow and we thought they forgot about us a few times.

    I might go back and sit in the bar area and have some sangria (only bc I absolutely love all sangria) but wasn't all that impressed with the food.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/16/2008

    I call this the "$20 Tapas Place"...

    Every time we go it averages out to $20 a person. We order different things and still... $20, give or take.

    Tapas are reasonably priced (as is the paella) and the $15 sangria pitchers keep the check down too.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/7/2008

    Good and affordable.  Great for groups but you'll likely end up downstairs.  Restaurant is a bit noisy.

    Go here if you're looking for a downtown location with a nice variety of foods to try. Nothing really blew me away but it was consistent.  Food served hot (very important to me) and sangria was strong.

    I wouldn't necessariliy recommend it as a place to go, but if someone suggested eating there, I would be ok with it. make sense????

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/26/2008

    One of my favorite restaurants, and pretty authentic for tapas fare.  There seems to exist an argument among tapas lovers as to whether Iberico or Ba-ba-ree-ba is better, but I choose Iberico.

    Other than the great quality of the food, Iberico beats any other tapas place hands-down for their prices.  Although I prefer Meson Sabika in Naperville over any other tapas place I've been to, I would highly recommend Iberico for the city.  I would agree - as many Ba-ba-ree-ba fans would point out - that perhaps its atmosphere isn't as "fun" as others, but I always have a great time there.  And it's much more reminiscent of a real meson/taberna in Spain.

    It's one of my favorite places to take out-of-towners when downtown.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/28/2011

    I've been coming here for at least 8 years and it was the very first restaurant that I was taken to in Chicago. I've always gone for the tapas which are amazing, every single one of them! I don't much care for the the rest of the food though. I think you get the best portions and prizes by the tapas alone. Hint: The queso de cabra takes a while to come by your table so order it as soon as you order drinks so that you may enjoy it with the rest of your food. Prices are great!

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/19/2009

    Cafe Iberico is apparently no longer a small plates tapas place. My friends and I had a good time there this past week, but we all swore that in the past, prices were lower and portions were smaller. On the positive side, with the economy and the weather, it was much less crowded than we had remembered it being in the past.

    The octopus that came with french fries was good, as was the artichoke salad, the garlic potatoes, queso de cabra, and the rice pudding (the server suggested we get it with chocolate) were okay.

    We also tried several sherries. Avoid the sweetest one (the server can identify it for you), unless you want an alcoholic molasses beverage experience.

    Service could have been better.  Still prefer Emilio's and Cafe Babereba over iberico.

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/4/2012
    2 check-ins

    Two levels. Very crowded waiting for our table while at the bar on the first floor (It was a Friday night). I felt bad for the people who did have tables by the bar because people were literally leaning against their food. We were accommodated for a table I believe up to 18 as people strolled in throughout dinner. I felt our waiter was more attentive to the large table of girls behind us of the same number of diners. For some reason we kept getting double of one order and it gets kind of chaotic when the plates come out one at a time and they just place it where there's space rather than near the person who ordered it. I had two dessert plates with coffee, the caramelized banana and chocolate flan. The chocolate flan tasted like chocolate pudding and both were large enough to share with someone else. My friend had the paella, which she let me try, which was good. It was very loud and the room upstairs was bright yellow (eyedrops please). The prices however were not bad but I guess I'm just not a fan. Service was lacking. The funniest part was when the waiter brought out the caramelized bananas in the shape of a guy's nether regions with the help of two scoops of ice cream and whipped cream for the birthday boys.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/2/2011

    Went on a Tuesday night and really enjoyed myself.  I had a pitcher of Sangria (not by myself).  We ordered the mushrooms, mixed salad, grilled octopus on top of potatoes, and a clam dish.  All dishes were good.  The server suggested a great desert and wine to be paired with it.  Easy parking and good food, what more could you ask for.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/11/2007

    Iberico used to be my favorite place to take out of town visitors. Somewhat out of the norm, (mom: "we're going to a topless bar??") but not so exotic that people are afraid to eat it.  The atmosphere at Iberico is a little different depending on what room you end up in.  The bar/entry is very loud and bustling.  The room to the south (right) is somewhat quiet and romantic.  The basement is a bit loud and at times crowded, but fun.  The room to the left (north) is huge and a vast dining area (not my favorite room, but I don't mind it).

    If you're looking for a quiet night out, I wouldn't recommend going here unless you're willing to wait for the "quiet" room and specifically ask for it.

    I really like the food here, it's dependable, if average at times.  Drinks are good.  Service is usually pretty good to decent.  

    They don't take reservations unless you're with 6 people or more, and on Friday/Saturday night they don't take reservations period.  I don't necessarily like that you can't make reservations, at times it's annoying to have to wait 30 or 40 minutes on a busy night for a table. Though at the same time, it makes it possible to get in (since they can't say "oh you don't have a reservation? we're full") without having to plan in advance.

  • 2.0 star rating
    2/18/2011

    Slightly better than Cafe Baba Reba but I think I have just come to the conclusion that like French food.  I just don't like Spanish food.  Its fine I'll definitely eat it but I would never chose to go to a strictly French resturant and now spanish.  I like french fusion stuff a lot though.  But count me out on spanish now so take this review with a grain of salt.  Food was fine but I'll never go back.  Same with Cafe Ba Ba Reba.... meh.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/13/2008

    I've always felt Cafe Iberico has been pretty consistent. I definitely prefer Cafe Iberico over Cafe Babareeba. I went here on Tuesday - no wait, very attentive service, great food.

    A few dishes I HIGHLY recommend:
    1. Croquetas (my friend and I each had our own order!)
    2. Scallops with rice (if my stomach was bigger, I'd also have my own order of this!)
    3. Garlic potatoes (and damn are these garlicy ;-)
    4. Sangria (I convinced my friend, who was never a fan of sangria, that indeed it's a great drink)

    If you plan to come here on the weekend, definitely expect a wait. But come here during the weekday and you're golden.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/11/2010
    1 check-in

    I love tapas. Any time I am with friends/family and someone asks "where should we get food?"... my answer is always tapas.

    When in Chicago, my answer is always Ba-ba-reeba or Iberico.  I go to BBRB for a more fun/trendy atmosphere, but I go to Iberico for REALLY GOOD TAPAS.

    Sure, they aren't as much about the flare as ba-ba-reeba, but their food is excellent.

    I've had everything from patatas ali-oli and jamon iberico to lomo de buey a la brasa and vieiras con salsa de piquillo.

    They're all good. Get anything on the menu with scallops, garlic, shrimp, or beef... or fish. or chicken. or potatoes and asparagus.

    Ah hell who am I kidding, just get it all, and be sure to wash it down with a pitcher of sangria!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/7/2011

    Love, love, love the food. Minus a half-star for noise and a half-star for not mentioning that one of the dishes takes 45 minutes to make. But overall, one of our Top 5 restaurants in Chicago. Fantastico!

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/25/2008

    I have been here many, many times including the worst date of my life that some of you may have read about.  That night the server was actually my saving grace.  That being said, I've been back, once gearing up for a trip to Madrid and it definitely set the tone.  Really a great tapas experience and very much like what you would expect in Barcelona or Madrid during the 5-8pm hour when the cities are bursting with energy.

    But where they lost me is when the European born and bred dining companion ordered the Paella, waited the forty five plus minutes (we were in no hurry) and paced our selves for plenty of sangria, brochettes and lots and lots of jamon.  But it really disappointed and he is a Chef with an aunt that is from Spain and to see the disappointment in his face when he bit into the long awaited Paella really made me take away the fourth star.  It was old. When you wait forty five plus minutes for something that is suppose to have been made to order, you expect it to be a fresh prep, not left over from yesterday and then reheated.  The seafood was a little skimpy and tough to the bite and the paella itself tasted like reheated leftovers.  

    We enjoyed everything else but when they push something on you and gear you up for the amazing finish, it really needs to live up to it.  And why no fifth star from someone who tries to find the good in everything?  Our server apparently underestimated our needs for well, service and while we plotted and schemed our way around the menu, we couldn't place an order because no one would take it!  The busboy finally got someone to get us more drinks and then we placed a food order with them and they sent us the wrong items.  Made the best of it though because it was twenty minutes before the server resurfaced.

    Don't get me wrong, I really love Iberico and have since that fateful horrid date but the last few of many, many visits have really kind of saddened me that the service and food quality may have slipped a little.  Yes its noisy, and why take reservations when you don't need to (I'll never understand that policy) but those issues aren't a secret.   Authenticity, spot on.  Its the slacker service and the left-over-from- yesterday-but still-wait -almost-an-hour -for-it-Paella.  My dining partner said he would have prefered to wait the hour and be told they were out of it then to have been served what he was served.  Enough said?

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/2/2011
    1 check-in

    This is my favorite tapas restaurant. We particularly like the seafood options. Sangria is really good as well. Never had a bad meal there. Service is very good as well.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/27/2008

    I visited Cafe Iberico for a work function.  It was fantastic!  The food was excellent, it was a lot of fun and the sangria went down like pretty, sweet, tasty water.  We did have to wait for a long time for a table but we waited downstairs at the bar and were able to keep drinking sangria while we waited.  

    When we got our table we, of course, could not decide on just a few things to start with so we ordered several tapas apiece; all were excellent.  And, we had so much food!  But, we kept ordering more and I seriously think we ordered one of almost everything on the menu.  I recall everything being great but one thing I did notice is that the clams are better than the mussels so in the future I will only order the clams and not the mussels.

    When we finally finished, we got our check and were expecting some serious damage since we'd had several pitchers of sangria and so much food.  It was a work thing (paid for) so we didn't really care, but the bill was really low.  We were actually very disappointed with ourselves!  I think it ended up being about $40 per person, with tax and tip, for a ton of really good food and drink, and I thought this was very reasonable.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/10/2010

    Haven't been here in a while but felt the need to give it a review because it's my favorite tapas place in chicago ever! I like the atmosphere on the bar side, very lively and fun for groups, the Latin music videos are hilarious to watch while you're waiting! Favorites I have to get every time - Jamon Iberico, Queso de Cabra, Croquetas de Pollo, Patatas Bravas and of course the sangria, which in my opinion is the largest pitcher for the best price in town.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/29/2009
    2 check-ins

    Huge fan. I've made my way through the menu several times over, along with the sangria. The best part of this place is the ambiance as well as the chef's specials.
    Sitting in either room, it reminds me of the lazy and conversational days I spent in Spain. Kudos to the owner for such a great place. I've going there for over 17 years and it has yet to disappoint.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/30/2008

    I came here for the first time last week for a going-away party and was surprised at how quickly we were seated even though it was Friday night (no reservations then), peak dinner time, and our party size was in the double digits. Cafe Iberico looks deceptively small and it turns out there is a whole other huge room on the left AND another floor below. Who knew?

    Anyway, we ordered a bunch of tapas and the food just kept coming and coming. I particularly liked the queso de cabra (this coming from a girl who dislikes goat cheese!), and pincho de solomillo (surprisingly tasty and not dry at all). The sangria wasn't bad but the only other time I've had it was in Barcelona and I have to say, I liked it better in Barcelona! One thing I didn't like was that they kept bringing us more pitchers even though we asked them to stop, which meant that we ended up drinking a lot more than we meant to. Despite that and despite the noise, we had a lot of fun and the party atmosphere was perfect for celebrating with our colleague.

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/25/2011

    Crowded, loud, and obnoxious.  The food was bland and overpriced.  Unless you are dining with more than 2 people, its not worth it to do tapas at this place.  The only positive was that it was within walking distance from our hotel on a rainy afternoon.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/5/2007

    T otally
    A wesome
    P aella
    A nd
    S angria

    I love tapas and sangria! A dozen small plates, pitchers of sangria and a perfect setting for large groups. With tapas, you get variety and even if you don't like one plate, there's always more coming. Here at Cafe Iberico, that wasn't the case. Although it was my first time, there was NOT one plate I didn't like...each one kept getting better and better! Course we came with a local who knew all the favorites to order from the Patatas Ali-Oli (red potatoes with garlic mayonnaise sauce), Pincho De Pollo (chicken brochette) Gambas Al Ajillo (grilled shrimp) and Almejas En Salsa Verde (sauteed clams). Oh, and let's not forget their Paella Iberica (seafood) and Paella Vegetariana (vegetarian) since it was some of the BEST paella I've ever had.  

    The portions are well sized and the prices are ridiculously reasonable. We left happy and stuffed, even our vegetarian dining companions. With several glasses of their refreshing sangria (red/white) and over a dozen plates, you can easily walk out under $20pp. Now if SF had a place like this...I'd be all over it!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/23/2008

    We ordered the shrimp, mussels, tortilla, paella, mushrooms, goat cheese, and a pitcher of sangria for a party of 3. It was all very good, but the mussels and paella were most delicious. Beware the shrimp sits in a little bowl of melted butter (eat it right away or watch the fat harden and then imagine that clogging your arteries). Wish I had more room to try dessert!

    It seemed pretty crowded/busy on a Sat night around 9:30-ish, but we got seated pretty quickly (10 minutes?) and the service was okay, not sucky, but not great either. Good for groups cuz you can try more stuff and share the bill- that said, it can get pretty loud just from all the people talking.

    I don't normally like tapas because my experience has been that you get not a lot of food for a lot of money, but the prices are okay, I guess, as far as tapas go. Our bill came to about $60 (before tip and the sangria pitcher was $15).

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/28/2011
    3 check-ins

    I love the food here.  The sangria is amazing.  The prices are cheap!  There's usually a line here on the weekends, but I think it's worth the wait.  The seafood paella is a must!

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/16/2011

    Time and time again I come back here for tapas and wine. The prices are good and the food never disappoints. Never left here disappointed or hungry.

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/20/2007

    It sounds like Iberico is a biatch to get in on the weekends, so we tried Wednesday night.  Called for a reservation, got in with no problem.  One of the people in our group speaks fluent Spanish, so she and the waiter had a thrill deciding to order a phallic-shaped dessert in honor of another friend's upcoming nuptials.  But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself...

    The decor is fine, looks a bit beat-up, if you ask me.  Can someone please do something about those stairs?!  I slipped and fell on my way up, which was embarrassing, because I was dead sober.  Had I been drunk, I would have blamed it on myself.  Those stairs are a lawsuit waiting to happen.

    The food was pretty darn good, although I'm surprised that they consider the Spanish omelette their 'specialty.'  Isn't that a staple?  I'm confused.  Loved the croquettes and just about everything else.

    Have to agree that the Sangria kicks ass.  I would have kept downing it like water, if I hadn't been driving.

    Overall, it's a bit pricey, even for a tapas joint.  I would pick Ba-Ba-Reeba over this.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/22/2008
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    This is my favorite restaurant!  The prices are excellent and the ambience is great, once you enter the restaurant you cannot help having a great time.  There is a wait if you go on a weekend but that just tells you what a great place it is that so many people want to be there.  The food is great, the bread is a must have for me, my favorite dish is patatas bravas (the spicier the better).  Other tapas that I like are salpicon de mariscos, mejillones, pulpo a la plancha, gambas al ajillo. The paella is great but most of the time we order tapas so we can have different items to taste.  As for dessert the biscocho borracho is excellent (on Tuesdays sometimes they have chocolate biscocho borracho yum, yum, yum), I never have room for dessert but at Iberico I always make room.  The sangria is the best, true they don't have exotic flavors but it's supposed to taste like wine.  If you don't like waiting for a table or an upbeat atmosphere then this is not for you.
    Take a look at the menu cafeiberico.com/menu.html

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/17/2009

    This place rocks! I was tempted to give them 4 stars, because it can get pretty crowded and the waiting time during the weekend can go up to 45 min to an hour! But then, it is not fair to take away a star just because people love it and keep packing this place! So, 5 stars, and here's why:
    - great Sangria, and affordable too.
    - the softest. most delicious octopus, which comes mixed with some delicious french fries;
    - a baked goat cheese with tomato sauce to die for;
    - chicken crokets (sp?) soft and rich (maybe too rich);
    - and to top it all off, an amazing tiramisu!
    I always enjoy the atmosphere, even during the weekend when it gets ridiculously packed (TIP: if you find a spot at the bar, just order food there  instead of waiting to be called with a table; you can order from the regular menu).

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/6/2010

    I'm sooo glad someone recommended this place to us.  The food was amaaaaazing!  When they brought out a basket of bread I didn't think there was any way we would eat all of it, but it turns out that their olive oil is super delicious so we ate it all!  And that was only the beginning! Everything we ate had amazing flavor and was high quality.  A definite treat to eat such yummy food!!!

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 2.0 star rating
    10/8/2007

    I celebrated my birthday this weekend with my first visit to Cafe Iberico...the experience was so hectic that it stressed me out. The place was overflowing with people; therefore, I wasn't too surprised that the staff's main focus was on quick table turnover. Our not-so-friendly waitress was noticeably annoyed by the few menu questions we had, and our plates were snatched away without anyone asking if we were finished.

    We did all enjoy the food and the sangria, and the free erotic birthday dessert was a nice touch I guess.

    One good thing to know is that bribery seems to work here - after hearing that we'd have to wait at least 90 minutes for a table we gave the host $20 and he sat us right away.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/17/2011
    1 check-in

    I've been coming here for the past 10 years! And, a good time never fails!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/13/2011

    I've been here many times over the years and have to admit - I never knew there is a second floor.  This place is always crowded (for good reason - good food and service), but we we're seated immediately at 7PM last Saturday (party of 4).  So now I know - if the bar by the door is full, go around the corner to the second (larger) bar; AND, if every table on the first floor is occupied, there may be tables available on the second floor.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/15/2009

    I've been here about 3 times now in an 8 year period and I've seen the prices increase by about 50% in that time (it's not just inflation). I would give Cafe Iberico 5 stars if they could revert back to when there tapas all hovered around $5.

    That said, atmosphere has really changed at this place. I remember the ghetto entryway which is now completely modernized...they also revamped the interior a lot (probably why the prices are so much higher now). Overall the food quality is excellent....

    There are a lot of choices, but only a few givens:
    1. Patatas Bravas (order at least 2)
    2. Pulpo a la Plancha (Grilled octopus and fries)
    3. Queso de Cabra (Goat cheese in tomato sauce...save the bread they give you when seated)

    Overall, you'll end up spending a little more than you would like for how much you end up eating...but you won't feel to bad about it because it's probably the best tapas bar in the city.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/18/2007

    Iberico is just great for a group of friends or trying to introduce new foods to people that are usually afraid of them.

    Because you can order "little" plates and share it's easy to get a ton of variety and allow my more inhibited friends a chance to walk on the wild side.  

    The other day they had a sea bass special in a red pepper cream sauce.  It was fantastic.  My friend was not particularly big on fish, but she was willing to give it a try and LOVED it.

    If you like garlic you MUST try the garlic potato salad.  It screams fresh garlic and you will need mints for the next two days but it's worth it!  Just make sure everyone eats it so that you all stink.

    I really like the chilled grilled veggie plate and of course the mixed olives.  The manchego cheese plate is awesome too.

    Got to have a glass of sangria when you stop by.  It will go down like cool aid and you won't realize that it got to you until you get up to leave.   So don't try it at lunch time unless you don't have to go back to the office.

    I'm all about the grilled squid, and the mixed seafood salad.  The ham puffs are like little breaded pillows of happiness in your mouth (totally comforting and tasty).

    Try the grilled scallops or mussels in marinara.  Both are really good.   The best part of Iberico is when the bill comes and you realize WOW!  I ate ALL the good stuff and this is all it came to????  Nice!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/13/2010
    1 check-in

    Delicious tapas!  This isn't really a good place for an intimate dinner since it can get very loud and hard to hear conversations.  This place gets packed on weekends so be prepared to wait in line.  They do not accept reservations on weekends so you really don't have a choice but to wait.  During lunch hours, it's not bad.  You can easily find a table but it's definitely a different vibe than on the weekends.  You'll be sure to enjoy whatever you order especially the spicy potatoes, calamari, and paella.  If you decide to order paella, you should order that immediately since it takes longer to cook.  I would recommend going with a group of 4 or 5 so that you'll be able to try different dishes without having to break the bank.  Oh, and don't forget...they have flavored mojitos...YUM!

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/24/2008

    Can't complain about the price they charge. for small dish of squid they charged about $5 or $6, still reasonable, and I think it's a good sale tactic too so the customer can order various of foods. The tapas for me was a little bit too sour. prolly because it's too much of lime juice. We also ordered the mushroom, they were great too, again small dish but not so expensive, we also had the prawns,. it was tasty. Overall was good. And the dessert we had crepe with vanilla ice cream with banana filled inside, and just one word to describe it. yummy!!!!! so comforting after you had all those food.

    definitely will go there again with friends or family

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/7/2011

    I was here with a few friends for dinner and drinks personally lucky I was here with some of My best friends...

    Food was great we share  so many dishes that it at the end it was kind of overwhelmed with all of kids of taste

    Decor average, service was average   , excellent for people on a budget and willing to wait for a long time to be seated specially on pick hours

    We has ensalada de espinacas con queso the cabra
    is was good the vinaigrette i think they can improve overall was good
    Salpicon de Marisco was excellent nice and and tender is tasted fresh

    Patatas bravas  were just to the perfection on the spice  

    Vieiras a la plancha  were tasty but overcooked you have to be very carefull with sea food you cooked and is not as great

    Entree paella marinera  the rice was a little overcooked not as much flavor to my personal taste

    Their sangria is excellent

    Dessert flan de chocolate  was perfect

    We had a lot  more food but  this dishes were the best

    +price
    +you can have a 10 course  dinner with $60
    + valet parking

    -too loud,overcrowded
    -service
    -seating arrange is too close, elbow to elbow
    _

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/11/2010

    "Lovely ladies here all the time."  I looked over at the seat next to me at the bar as I'm waiting for the paella.  Huh?  "On a Thursday, Friday, Saturday nite, it's filled with honies."  So begins the banter... from Chicago, to weather, to my work, his work, and his ambition in the field of cosmo-neuro-pharmaseutics.  I can't even spell that, but I have enough of a bio background to ask interesting questions, like, "so you want to completely mess with the human mind?!!?"  In between the the paella came and it was EXCELLENT -- one of the best, albeit few, that I've ever had.  I was tempted to get dessert, but seeing as how I'd downed three beers during the course of dinner and conversation, I passed.   And there were a lot single ladies walking around -- he was right.   I really like Chicago-- very friendly people.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/10/2011

    man, do i love sodium, but the seafood paella was a tad bit too salty for my liking but it looked delicious and had great flavor but i had to balance it with my delicious white sangria.

    i was here with my boyfriend on a saturday night and we were side by side but i had to scream for him to hear anything. the music videos on the tv screens are peculiar..

    but the atmosphere is great, it would be a great place for parties, and the service was quick and friendly amid the busy restaurant. next, i will try cafe babareeba and see what tapas reigns supreme in chicago!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/15/2007
    Listed in Girls gotta eat

    Food = so good I am craving it now. (and I just ate 15 lbs of cheese fries)
    Location = whatever. parking is kinda crappy, but at least its not in Lincoln Park.
    Seating = makes me want to die. I dont like having strangers basically sit on my lap while they drone on and on about their stupid annoying children.
    Thats how good the food it though- I keep going back even though Im probably going to wait an hour and hate where Im sitting- soon as I get my food- I just stop caring,

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/15/2010

    Iberico you are like old friend that never let's me down. We've been hanging out for 15 years.  I've always had a good time and an excellent meal.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/21/2010

    One of my favorite places in Chicago.  Dont go during peak times otherwise you wont be able to carry on a conversation due to noise and you'll have to wait awhile for a table.  my favorites- seafood paella, garlic shrimp, beef skewer, goat cheese, and seafood salad.  and on special occasions the ladyfingers soaked in espresso and brandy.  great fresh food, reasonably priced tapas and pleasant wait staff.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/19/2008

    I always have a good time at Cafe Iberico. It's just so much fun! Good food, great, inexpensive Sangria you order by the pitcher, and a fun atmosphere. Some of the Tapas are better at Emilio's, but I would rather come here (If you're over 40, you might rather go to Emilio's, this place is loud and packed with 20 and 30-somethings). It's a fun place to come with a lot of people, but you'll wait longer with a table, but it's worth it. For a shorter wait, come early or late or on a weeknight.

    Things you absolutely must order: the scallops, paella, tortilla espanola, beef or pork tenderloin, grilled octopus, a pitcher of sangria (red or white) and the banana for desert (if  you're there for a bachelorette party, they'll decorate it accordingly).

  • 2.0 star rating
    2/28/2011

    Not the greatest date spot.  Loved the street parking and the quick seating for it being prime time on a Friday night.  The Sangria was tastey the food was just ok for me.  What I did not enjoy was how loud it was not only from the crowd but also from the music a few times I just nodded my head and pretended I heard what my date was saying. Once our food came our small table was so packed we could not eat in comfort.  Our waitress was not the greatest we sat for about 10min with empty wine glasses (I hate that).  The whole time we kept mentioning other Tapas places when we both finally said I guess this place wasn't that good if all it has us doing is talking about other spots.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/14/2007

    I haven't been here in a few years, but Cafe Iberico is the first ever tapas restaurant I have been to in Chicago and also the best.  I looooooove their goat cheese, you can't visit without getting at least one order.  Grilled octopus is also another favorite of mine.  What's great is how inexpensive the tapas are.  A good thing to do would be to make reservations, especially during the weekend!

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/24/2005

    Cafe Iberico is still my favorite tapas place in the city. The place always fills up, so try to get there before 5pm for immediate service (then again, who eats dinner so early in Spain?). Tapas are basically bar snacks in Spain, but glammed up a bit on this side of the Atlantic. Order a bunch of these smallish dishes and share with your friends. Tasty selections include the mushrooms, the beef on a skewer with fries and heavenly caramelized onions, and the shrimp. The sangria and paella are good, and they always have some interesting specials. Definitely save room for dessert. They are all delicious and reasonably priced for a downtown restaurant. If you do have to wait for a table, enjoy the TV programming from Spain, or stare at the decor ranging from wine bottles in the ceiling rack to colorful tiles on the walls.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/24/2008

    Fun atmosphere for a group of friends, great prices, decent food.  Unfortunately, the food and drinks were just that - decent.  Nothing really stood out to me at all and I thought all the dishes were pretty bland and boring.

    Nevertheless, I think this is a fun place to go to with a group of friends and I recommend it for that.  Just don't go in expecting to be blown away by the food.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/20/2010

    Yeah! I'm a fan of Iberico! Nice Tapas place! Good sangria, good service and the best croquetas de pollo I've ever tasted.  Absolutely, worth while. I love they always have TVE (Television Española) on their TVs.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/10/2011

    I was amazed at how much food they give per plate. I'm so used to ordering 8-10 plates when I go for tapas but the kind waiter stopped us after four saying it was going to be too much (for two people). He was so right. All of the dishes were great, but I definitely recommend the red wine sangria and the paella iberica. Overall, perfect.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/20/2009

    This place is overrated.... although the sangria was yummy. -- and a pitcher of it is only 15$!

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/15/2010

    SANGRIA!

    Whether you're a red wine or white wine fan, the sangria is amazing!  

    And the house paella is a MUST.  It's a large portion, however, so plan on sharing with others!

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/25/2007

    It doesn't surprise me when I see the huge amount of Reviews for this gem of a place.

    The service, SMELL atomosphere and Food are excellent.

    For 50.00 you can drink Sangria, eat till you burst have a great time and want to come back for more.

    I will be back time and time again!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/23/2007

    One word - "Impressive".

    When I walked in, I was surprised to see nicely decorated interior, huge seating areas and long extending bar! This place looks very upscale while my friend and I felt a bit under-dressed for this type of restaurant.  We went mid-afternoon and a weekday so only 4 tables full of people.

    Food --

    We ordered  two hot tapas - PINCHO DE POLLO(Chicken brochette with caramelized onions and rice) and PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO(Beef tenderloin skewer with fries and caramelized onions) with one entree of PAELLA MARINERA (a large skillet with seafood and yellow rice).
    The tapas were small in size but very delicious. The meat on both dishes were very tender and cooked just right. The Paella was delicious and had sufficient amount of seafood and plentiful rice. All in all, very rich in flavor.

    Service--

    Service was prompt and annoying at the same time.

    We made a mistake when placing an order and wanted to switch one of the tapas for another 5 minutes after ordering. We told the waitress and she said the food already on the grill (fast!) She helped us change the order with ease.  

    What I found annoying was that wait staff would pass by our table every 20 minutes,peering at our table to see if we were done eating so they can take the dishes away. Do you need those dishes that bad???
    Thought**Me and friend didn't like to be rushed and would like to finish everything on our plates, 'thank you very much'. I guess this is the type of restaurant that provides great service and it being the first time to experience this is quite odd. I would just be happy if they said "Thank you" as we headed out the door, but that's just my preference.

    Highly recommend~~ come and taste Spanish food at great prices.

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/19/2008

    I know the prices looked good in comparison to some other tapas places and that, yes, tapas places inflate their prices because they can BUT for the price, I expected a slightly more substantial portion especially since the website said 2 tapas plates per person were enough.
    (As a general rule I go for three but i thought 'Hey!, the restaurant knows best...') Its only enough if you fill up on the bread and oil and fork out money on coffee and dessert.

    The other main gripe of mine was the rushed service. Don't expect a good review if you don't let us spend enough time in the place to enjoy it! I felt more like a number than a paying customer. This is not a game of how many people can we get through the door each night, its supposed to be a relaxing authentic Spanish atmosphere. Epic fail on that count.

    However, the three stars are on account of how delicious the grilled shrimp in garlic and white wine was. I could happily just order that and skip the rest.
    I also ordered the grilled squid with olive oil, garlic and lemon juice- tasty, but the rings were even more rubbery than usually expected. The rest of that dish was among the best squid I'd eaten.

    The sangria was alright, the red wine was a tiny bit sharper than I like, but thats just a preference. If I ever went back, I'd order the white.

    Dessert was delicious- I had the weekly special which was a chocolate  ladyfinger based dessert with strawberries and strawberry sauce. Heavenly.

    Not a date place because of the loudness and amount of other diners, but I would consider going back...after I try out other tapas cafes first.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/23/2008

    I like. I'll be back.
    I've only been for tapas a couple of times, and this time we came for lunch. I really liked the place. It was casual and open. All kinds of people were eating here, including families. It felt like a long established family restaurant.
    If you want to try a little bit of  a lot of different things, then tapas is the right choice. It is way better if you are with a few more people who are willing to share everything, because then you can get that much more.

    The food was all good, we had a wide variety from veg to chicken to steak to seafood. It wasn't the fanciest of foods, but the sauces and rice really added to the dishes.

    I'm glad I know about this place now. I was starting to get bored with all the downtown work lunch options...

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/22/2011

    If this was my first experience with tapas, I may have been more impressed, but there are much better places in the city!  The food was only moderate and the service felt VERY rushed.  I was told the Sangria was excellent, but I don't think it was anything special.  The food was super cheap though...but I think there are a few more places in the area that are much better.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/22/2011

    Very authentic food and athmosphere.  One of my very favorite restaurants!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/9/2008 Updated review

    Okay, so I finally got in to Cafe Iberico, after my horrible experience of solely waiting for a table last time. This time, it was part of my week of culinary indulgence (still on-going), and subsequent bodily expansion.

    Actually, when I came here yesterday, it was about 1 PM. The last meal I had was half a bowl of oatmeal at 6 AM. I was famished. No, rather, I thought my stomach was eating itself and my blood glucose level was so low my friends had to practically carry me to the restaurant.

    I was a sad sight.

    I was led to a table, sat down. Opened the menu, and as I tried to read, the room spun around. I think I mumbled something to the tune of "just order for me" and closed the menu. A few moments later, the bread basket arrived. I scarfed down a few pieces, dipped in olive oil with a sprinkling of salt and pepper.

    Finally, the room stopped spinning. I looked around.

    The space is actually quite large! And beautiful tile everywhere.

    My favorite dish was definitely the scallops. That and the seafood paella. I'm coming back for those. We also enjoyed the chorizo dish and the grilled octopus - not rubbery or chewy but really awesome with the fried potatoes! I also really loved the potato salad which was a surprise because I usually hate anything that is suggestive of mayonnaise. Delightfully light!

    The desserts were so scrumptious and not to be missed. They were decadent and sweet without being too sweet or overly rich. Just enough to satisfy the sweet tooth and make you say "mmmm".

    Service was decent, but nothing spectacular.

    I left not only with my tummy filled and my taste-buds delighted, but felt rejuvenated, revived, resuscitated. I still can't get the paella out of my mind.

    1.0 star rating
    4/16/2007 Previous review
    After waiting for 1.5 hours (which is what the hostess said) we were told to wait another 15… Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    8/14/2009

    Delicious tapas, but the service was super slow during lunch since they had only one waitress covering like 20 tables. Ridiculous. Servings were decent, I was full all though we shared 4 plates with 3 girls.

    The mussels: good
    spicy potatoes (PATATAS BRAVAS): WAY TOOO salty (this is one of the most popular things on the item too)
    grilled shrimp: good
    baked goat cheese: yum

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/7/2008

    Granted I came here after a five hour open bar at a Kentucky Derby Party.  We waited to be seated for forty five minutes.  This was good because it gave me time to shake the spins.  It was my first experience with Tapas and it was good I was there with 10 people because I was able to try a lot of different dishes.  Everything was very good, even the bread that came with the meal.  The service was OK, although we had a vegetarian at our table who ordered something and it never came even though we asked at least five times.  I'd come back here, but I'd have to come with someone who is familiar with the menu.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/4/2007

    I have never had tapas before.  I now want to have tapas again.

    Sangria was very good.   Fruity enough to not be drinking straight wine, but dry enough to not be drinking a juice box.

    My companion said that this particular showing was not the best ones she'd had there.  I, however, could not complain about the taste in the slightest.  The meat was tender and moist (yeah, that sounds dirty, and I was || close to being aroused by my meal, so deal with it).  The sauces were rich and flavorful.  The vegetables were excellent complements to the meats and sauces.  All the dishes we had were very well put together, in my opinion, and I definitely would like to return to try out more dishes.

    The service was definitely another positive.  Our dishes were out quickly and our drinks always full.  

    I will definitely be going back, and have already recommended it to a few people.  I could do without the Spanish techno they had playing in the background, but after some sangria, you hardly notice it.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/15/2009

    First off, this place is HUGE!!  When you first walk through the door it seems to be a small, quaint tapas joint, but start wandering around a bit and you'll wish you left a trail of popcorn to help you find your way back to the table.  

    We went on a Friday evening without a reservation, and ended up waiting for about 30 minutes or so.  Once seated, the service wasn't bad at all, with plenty of helpful suggestions if you're not sure what route to take, which is definitely possible given the extensive menu.

    I ended up with Patatas Bravas, Queso De Cabra, Calamares a la Plancha.  This proved to be an order a bit bigger than I could handle, but it was super tasty.  I have to throw out a big kudos on the squid.  As a rule, I'm very wary of ordering calamari in the Midwest, but our server assured me it was tasty, and man oh man it was!  The lemon & garlic combination was subtle but nice, and the squid was FRESH!!  That made me really happy, as I was more than expecting to work on a plate of rubber bands, but you could easily cut it with a fork.  I was really impressed.

    The potatoes were also really good, and I'm not sure what is used for the spice but it was really tasty.  

    The atmosphere is okay, though it does tend to err a tab on the corporate feel.  Granted, there isn't a lot of goofy shit on the walls `a la TGI Friday's, but it feels a bit like that rather than an authentic tapas place.  All in all, it was a great experience.

    Would I consider this a top-shelf tapas place?  Probably not.  It's not bad at all, and the food is definitely decent, but the biggest advantage in my opinion is the value.  It may not necessarily be the best tapas in the world, but it is damn good tapas for the price.  A party of two can easily get out for under $40, sangria included, and considering what that same amount would buy you nearly anywhere else, I would say you're way ahead.

    I wouldn't be afraid to recommend it at all.  Well done Cafe Iberico.

    cafeiberico.com

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/16/2008
    1 check-in

    I love Cafe Iberico because it is CHEAP!!  If you get any of the dishes that come with fries or rice, it's probably enough for one person.  I order the Pincho De Pollo.  It's good and only costs $5.  If you're feeling like "splurging" order a half or a whole pitcher of sangria.  I like the white sangria the best.  If you're like me and have a stressful job, a hlaf pitcher of sangria between co-workers for lunch should knock the edge off just enough for you to return to work smiling.

    also try the carmelized banana dessert (forgot the Spanish name for it)

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/26/2008

    I am the type of person who leaves when they see a line. It took several tries to get me in here, close to 4, I think. Was it worth it? Eh...

    The food was good, not wonderful, but solid. The service left something to be desired, but they got the drinks and food on the table, so okay. The fabled smell of the restaurant? Oh yeah, its there- added to the heavy perfume of every yuppy in River North... yum.

    Loud. Crowded. I give it 3 stars because the food is good. I don't think I'll go back unless it is through some social obligation.

    Here is the breakdown:

    * Wait staff: Eh... not too friendly, but they get you your food.
    * Drink Menu: Full Bar
    * Menu: Tapas
    * Parking:  Valet, but walk or take transit if you can. Its not far too off the Red Line.
    * Dress: Casual

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/26/2008

    Note to you: They don't take reservation times for after 5:00 p.m. and it's packed on Friday & Saturday nights. Get there early!

    I'm not sure what everyone is all up in arms about with this place.

    I thought it was wonderful. i've been to Spain and eaten Tapas there, and realized that the US version of Tapas is lame to say the least. These little, tiny, overpriced portions that are difficult to even share. This results in that uncomfortable, "Do you want the last shrimp?" moment that I hated about Tapas.

    This place took me by complete surprise, the Tapas portions are hearty and really taste authentic (I didn't say good, I said authentic). The garlic mayo salad - tasted the same as if I was sitting in that dive Tapas place in Barcelona - the Chorizo was dead on and garlic shrimp, perfectly cooked. Their Plantains Foster was melting and gooey and also exactly what I wanted. OH! My favorite, scallops with saffron was better than the same I had for $40 at Bice a couple weeks ago.

    The Sangria is strong and delish.

    Negatives? Definitely the noise level and they forgot our sausage platter. We told them not to bring it anyways because we were full...and they brought it out anyway (and charged us for it). That was pretty lame.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/25/2010

    Um, Yelp, you're letting me down here. The restaurant's 739 N. LaSalle Drive address is not in Lincoln Park as the Google Maps display indicates. It's actually more than 1mile south (just below the intersection of LaSalle & Chicago) in the River North neighborhood. Ok, on with my review...

    I love Cafe Iberico. The tapas are terrific and the sangria is to die for. It's strong, delicious, and the pitchers are actually a great deal considering how many glasses you get. I just passed a professional exam for the State and went to Iberico to celebrate afterward with a friend. Weekends are crazy here because it's such a popular restaurant and has been on most people's radar forever. Fortunately we went on a Thursday around 6pm so we were seated immediately, had incredibly attentive wait staff, and the kitchen sent our orders out in record time. I didn't get too experimental but did try a new whitefish (that I sadly don't remember the name of) as well as the only mushroom dish on the menu which was very good and had an amazing broth. Other than that, we had a lot of the standards... grilled octopus, beef skewers, goat cheese in tomato sauce, etc and everything tasted great. All-in-all a fun, albeit mildly drunk evening.

    In contrast, I have been here enough times to know that you can really run the gamut in terms of how easy it is to get seated and attentiveness of the wait staff. It is also loud so I really don't recommend going here on a first date unless maybe during the day when the dining rooms are less full. By 7:30pm, it can get noisy and you'll have a difficult time hearing one another. Still, the food is excellent and the prices are low considering how much variety there is and the size of the portions.

    Oh, and since I just noticed there was another review warning people not to sit downstairs... I agree that the atmosphere is generally better on the 1st floor but it really depends on what you are looking for. I have requested to be seated downstairs on several occasions because it was simply too loud upstairs and it is more secluded which is nice if you're in a mood for a little privacy. The smaller dining room on the south side of the building is usually pretty good for a mix of atmosphere with a little less noise than you'll get in the larger room passed the bar.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/12/2009

    Cafe Iberico is my only proof that tapas restaurants don't royally suck. Every dish tasted great, the quantities were great, and the prices were great.

    There is nothing worse then going out for tapas spending an arm and a leg then going home and forced to order a pizza cause you aren't full.

    Thank you Cafe Iberico for not sucking

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/5/2011

    I dream of this place all the time.  Favorite tapas ever - grilled mushrooms were perfect, I didn't care for the goat cheese with tomato basil sauce (but my sister loved it), grilled octopus was so yummy.  Their seafood paella was delicious.  My favorite part is that crispy rice stuck on the bottom....mmmmmmm!  And then to wash everything down with their sangria is always yummy!  Will always visit here when I'm in ChiTown!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/23/2008

    I'd give this place a high 3.

    Pretty good food, sangria, and prices.  With the renovations that they've made, it seems that time to be seated and served has improved. I have, however, waited for over 2 hours to eat here, which is not fun having to BEGIN your dinner at 10pm.

    This place is pretty busy, large and boisterous, making conversation difficult at times.  Restrooms are lacking and a bit claustrophobic and sloppy (at times).

    Also, they do not  bring complimentary desserts for birthdays, etc, so if you mention this to the server, they will bring you a cake/dessert, but you will be paying for it.  Just an FYI.  :)

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    10/11/2007

    LOVE. In college, I used to go here CONSTANTLY. Maybe I like it so much because I always got bombed on Sangria during the hour wait for a table. While I find the food to be just okay at times, I love the fun crowd and, duh, the sangria.

    Guys used to always take me on dates here, but it isn't a great romantic spot because its way loud, and waiting an hour for a table can be AWKWARD if you and your date don't have much to talk about. Unless, of course, you get bombed on Sangria. Yay Tapas!

  • 2.0 star rating
    7/10/2007

    I have been here twice, didn't like it much either time.  The sangria is only ok, and the food, not so much either.  Most of the tapas were bland, and our seafood paella was dry and somewhat overcooked.  Our roasted peppers appeared to be marinated, not roasted, and straight out of a jar.  The banana in caramel sauce dessert, however, gets 5 stars, that was awesome.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/11/2010

    I have been to Iberico several times, and each time it is amazing.  Must haves are the patatas ali oli, and the ceviche.  That said, prepare to spend a good deal of time there, for the seating to be crowded, and the noise level to be high.  The service is ok, though the door staff leaves something to be desired.  The food is really what keeps me going back again and again.  Don't forget to end your dinner with a coffee, its the perfect ending to the meal.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/12/2008

    I'm joining the cult and writing my first yelp review.  Apparently I have nothing better to do.

    Cafe Iberico is such a Chicago classic.  And I completely agree with the review prior to the one I write.  I hadn't been there in years, but NOTHING HAS CHANGED.  Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
    The food is amazing and our server was so incredibly helpful and attentive.
    There is so much variety and flavor in everything.
    I will wait to go back though, cuz I want to experience that again, and to be as pleasantly reminded of my experience last time.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/28/2008

    As others apparently think, the quality of this place has seemed to have diminished in recent months.  I'm not going to hold one decent (as opposed to great) experience against them however.

    I have been here 3 or 4 times.  The first 2 or 3 were perfect.  They had great food, modestly priced drinks, good sangria, they served the food at just the right time (and appropriately intermittent), congenial servers, a great all around atmosphere, and it was crowded, but they didn't keep us waiting long.  

    Tonight I was there, and we waited for 45 minutes to an hour, the food did seem slightly lower in quality, and the servers were moving at an uncomfortably fast pace.  I couldn't even order something without our waiter looking away 5 or 6 times like he was very frantic about something.  For ordering 15 or so different tapas plates between 7 people (plus salads and soups), surprisingly, they only got one wrong.  I guess you can expect that though.  I was also displeased when they seated us in the basement.  Its pretty hot down there.  I like sitting in the main room, but maybe it was just difficult to accommodate us all there.  It is a little difficult to show up unannounced to a restaurant at 7 o'clock on Sunday night with 7 people and expect a great experience, but hey, they did an alright job.

    I would say in order to have a perfect experience here, you should get there around 7, come with a group of  about 4 people, and plan on standing in the bar to have drinks for a while waiting for your table.  The place is very lively, and has a great Latin feel to it.  Their food is very authentic as well.  I have been to Spain multiple times, am a big fan of tapas bars, and this place really is top notch.

    This was previously one of my favorite restaurants.  I would venture to say it still is.  I was only a little displeased with my most recent experience, but I'll give them another chance.  Some times things go wrong.  If it starts becoming a pattern, then something's up.  For now I would just have to say, check it out!  Its fun, and they have great, reasonably priced food!  I think it would make a great spot to take a date as well.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/31/2010

    The sangria is amazing, the food is AMAZING, and the portion sizes are perfect. Go! Go now! Order everything!

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/4/2007

    The food is good, the atmosphere chaotic. I went with a friend for dinner on a Friday night and we had a couple of pitchers of sangria (tasty, tangy) and a few Spanish dishes to share.

    Overall, the food was good, the drinks were tasty and the prices were reasonable for Tapas in the city. My only annoyance was how insanely loud it was. Seriously, invest in some acoustical tile or something. Aside from that? I'd be eager to go again.

    I've been back here a couple of times and really liked it. I updated to 4 stars.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/3/2007

    Best tapas in the city, no question.  Service is hit or miss, and you're just inviting a bad experience to slap you in the face if you go during the weekend after 6.  But the food.  THE FOOD!  Patatas ali-oli (my family calls it "the really good potato salad"), salpicon de marisco, championes (I hated mushrooms until I ate them here), almejas en salsa verde (the sauce... un-freaking-real).   And the light, sweet, and heavenly bizcocho borracho.  BIZCOCHO!!  

    Bottom line:  Iberico kicks Ba Ba Reba's and Emilo's butt when it comes to taste and value.   And even tho they only offer 2 kinds of sangria, it is the baseline for all other sangria I drink

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/21/2011

    Only thing that it lacks is more room!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/5/2011

    I went here with friends a few weeks ago and loved it.  We had a ridiculous smorgasbord.  I'll just go over the highlights:

    - Sangria: yes, please.  Both the white and the red were delicious and relatively inexpensive.
    - The smoked salmon (cold tapas) was tasty
    - The seafood paella was good but a tad salty
    - There was a clam hot tapas in a white white and butter sauce - really yummy (do yourself a favor and dip the bread in the extra broth!)
    - A couple of us split bites of both a seafood platter and a platter of a fowl persuasion; both excellent.  I discovered I really like quail but really dislike conch.
    - The mushroom hot tapas was excellent
    - I had two random little skewers - a zucchini and a scallop.  I enjoyed both.

    I'm sure there were other things I enjoyed... all I really know was that I consumed a ridiculous amount of food and sangria and for a reasonable price.  Just know they don't take reservations on Fridays, and that the place will be very loud.  A must try!

  • 1.0 star rating
    12/4/2010

    This place sucks. We called in advance and they said the wait was going to be 15 min. When we got there it was ridiculously packed. The lady in the front put our names down and told us to watch the screen; she said the wait was going to be approx. 30min. An hour later we went to check what the hold up was; and they rudely informed us to keep watching the screen for our name. Another 35 minutes passed so we went back to the front. This time a different lady who apparently had no idea what was going on told us to keep watching the screen and she wasn't sure how long the wait would be. This place sucks!! The service is complete crap.  Almost 2 hours of waiting after being told it was only going to be 15?  Unforgiveable.

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/25/2007
    Listed in Best Happy Hour

    3.5 stars - I want to round up but I can't.  I just can't.
    Sangria alone cannot carry four stars.... even with the amount I drank that night!

    Anyone who is giving this place 5-stars for the food REALLY needs to try a truly good tapas restaurant.  We went here with a friend who said that everything here was good - and I will say that every dish was decent - - but "good"?  "AMAZING"?  "EXCELLENT"??
    I think not.

    Yes, their sangria is very, very good.
    The place is PACKED - and getting from the outside to your table will take several gropings and about 10 minutes, no joke, unless you're from NY and you don't mind shoving and getting shoved back.  It's most definitely a popular hangout, and the drinks flow freely here.  The bar portion is just packed, and the seating seems to always be full.  There WILL be a wait, with or without a reservation, I'd guess.... if going on a weekend evening.  (I was there on a Friday night.)

    For being a trendy hangout, or a popular place with tons of young people - I want to hand it four stars. It's hip, it's cool.  
    But it IS a restaurant, and for the food alone - - I can't give it four stars!

    No, there is nothing truly TERRIBLE here.... in fact, nothing bad at all.  But measuring Cafe Iberico against other tapas or tapas-style food I have had - - it's merely a 3.5 at best.  The dishes are a 3.... and the atmosphere, setup, bar and the sangria give it the extra half-point.

    Obviously - most of Chicago disagrees with me, based on these reviews, so take this for what it's worth.  I was simply not impressed.  Not impressed at all!
    Compared to other Chicago locations where the food or atmosphere or action was amazing - - this place does not compare!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/9/2012

    I definitely think this place can be a hit or miss on on certain days, but on the majority of days - it is a hit!!! I totally enjoy the patatas bravas, croquetas the pollo, queso de cabra, and all their tasty seafood plates. I'm definitely a regular at this place.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/20/2008

    Minus one star for spotty sangria.  Some times it's good, some times it's weak.  Also, if you come right at lunch, the food tastes a bit more fresh.  I personally like the atmosphere at night.  Sometimes it's nice to wait two hours and get a buzz on.  I always come here with groups and this is where I take out-of-towners.
    What I always get:
    Croquettes
    Octopus (my favorite)
    Spicy Potatos
    Mushrooms
    And one or two of the specials.  
    The goat cheese is an every once in a while item.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/11/2010

    This place is a little overrated. We were hoping to get a great authentic tapas experience, but we just ended getting a slightly above average tapas meal. The value is relatively decent with good flavors, but the execution of the dishes is lacking. (i.e. the paella's rice wasn't crispy and the pork loin was dry).

    I'd say to go to Cafe Iberico if you have a large group and you want some sangria and decent food...otherwise I'd just pass.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/26/2010
    1 check-in

    The wait was long on a Friday night but it was well worth it..my date and I had a pitcher of excellent sangria while we waited for our table. After being seated, the service was attentive and professional. It was really busy but we never felt ignored or rushed by our server. The tapas were f-n awesome!! I only had hot tapas and they all rocked. Shrimp! Patatas! Scallops!! It's big, crowded and energetic. Good people watching, sexy atmosphere. Instant new favorite place.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/25/2009

    I went here recently with some friends after leaving Clark Ale House.  It was on a total whim and I'm glad we went!

    At first I was wondering if I would be filled up because I eat more than a monster truck consumes gas.  After a few plates, the feeling of bliss was setting in.  You definitely have to try the frog legs.

    My friends were saying the sangria was extremely good although I didn't partake that evening.  You should definitely take a step in.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/3/2007

    Cafe Iberico is awesome in so many ways. First, the bartenders have become more of my friends than anything. Unfortunately, some of my favorites have left, but I think Julio is still there! He is the best. He's got glasses and is always smiling. Anyway, besides the service...

    The Sangria - Is awesome. I recommend going on a weeknight when it is not too busy. I like red better than white because red tastes more like wine. The white is good for anyone who likes really sweet sangria. A pitcher is really cheap (about $12 or so and is enough for 2 or 3 people). If you're getting just one glass, I recommend getting the half pitcher. This will get you a lot more for a buck extra.

    The beer - I like beer, like most other people. They have the basics with some added labels. I really like Estrella. It's a Spanish beer that has a sort of spiced taste. It is similar to Quilmes from Argentina if you've ever had it. Other beer I've tried there: DAMN BARCELONA. The best part of this beer is the name. I didn't like it all that much...

    The food - is wickedly amazingly good. Tapas is basically small plates of food you can share. At Cafe Iberico (or CI as my friends and I call it) they are more like entrees. I always get the Salmon a la Pimienta. It's always so good and filling. I like it better than the other salmon dish... which I forget the name. The garlic potato salad is good, but pretty garlicky, so I'd get a mint if I were you. The chicken skewers with caramelized onions are yummy. The shrimp dishes are very tasty but not as filling. I haven't really had anything I didn't like there.

    The desserts - Unfortunately, I am usually too full or too tipsy to try the desserts here but I wouldn't be surprised if they were good.

    The bad??? The only thing I can think of is that it does get pretty loud in there... but it's a bar! Sometimes on the weekends, the line to the bathroom can get long.  However, I love the service, drinks and food here.

    If you go and have a bad time, let me know so that I can go with you personally and take it up with Julio! :)

    Hope you enjoy it.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/21/2010

    I always enjoy this place! Whether it be on a date or a group of friends!  One of my favorite places in the city

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/28/2009

    I was a bit disappointed with this tapas bar after all the reviews. I found the seafood overcooked and the salmon I had was past its prime, I sent it back. No excuse for bad seafood in a place like this. THe wine list is good and the service is adequate.  I still prefer Emilio's

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/1/2007

    I LOVE this place!

    Very difficult to get in the door and hear anything on the weekends (sat at the bar to eat with boyfriend on a saturday night)..but on a weeknight, its open late, its cheap, its a perfect atmosphere for a date or for a large group of friends.

    Sangria is EXCELLENT. And they have these tomatoey potatoes that made me so so happy.

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/9/2011

    It was okay.  Very loud, very cramped.  We were seated right next to the bathrooms in the middle of a walkway.  Waiters and customers continually bumped into our table and chairs.  This would all have been acceptable had the food made up for it.  Instead, I found the food relatively bland, generic and overpriced.  Decent Sangria, though.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/28/2008

    Pretty decent. I wouldn't say that anything we ate blew me away, but it was still yummy nonetheless. I know it's supposed to be fabulous, but I'd like to try other tapas places to compare.

    • Qype User mija61…
    • Chicago, IL
    • 36 friends
    • 145 reviews
    4.0 star rating
    8/1/2008

    I love Iberico. As superchristine notes, the tapas are authentic, and mostly very good. It's always a good sign when friends from Spain like the place! I especially recommend the goat cheese (absolutely fantastic, all melty and gooey) and the chicken salad (a green salad with grilled chicken), as well as the garlic potatos. Yum. I love the white sangria, too.very fruity. You might be able to kid yourself that it's actually good for you! ;)

    The place does get very crowded, and the noise level is very high. It's a fun place to go with friends before going out dancing.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/30/2010

    Best tapas in chicago. I've been in all spanish places in chicago, but non of them compare to iberico. This place is always busy. It gets really loud in there, but because food is so good, i don't care. Some of my favorites are: patates bravas and alioli, shrimp in garlic sauce, octopus with fries, mushrooms and ladys fingers as a dessert. Food is definitely five stars

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/22/2008
    Listed in Foodfest

    Cafe Iberico brings me much happiness.  Their Iberico hamon is delicious!  But... so is everything else!
    The service is good and the food is tremendous.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/18/2008

    I had heard a lot about Cafe Iberico so I had pretty high standards coming into dinner here.  My expectations weren't really met, but then again, I did just come back from Spain so maybe this is an unfair comparison.

    I liked the Sangria - both red and white.  The food was okay but nothing was really exceptional.  We had the grilled shrimp, grilled calamari, chicken croquettes, Iberico Ham w/Manchego Cheese, Mushrooms, and baked goat cheese.  My biggest complaint was the Fideua which just wasn't authentic at all.  

    Definitely more of a "bar-like" place than upscale dining, but a fun place for groups.  Zero wait on weeknights ... always a plus.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/22/2008

    I've been to Cafe BaBaReeba a bunch of times for tapas. I've heard good things so my cousin and I decided to give Cafe Iberico a try. I guess it was the little things that bothered me about this place. They don't take reservations. We went on a Saturday night and only waited about 15 minutes but the hostess looked really confused. He basically just led us around the restaurant, looking for an open table. The whole situation was just strange. But after a half pitcher of white wine sangria and the wonderful goat cheese/marinara dish, I was looking for another plate. There weren't any. The tables were cramped and people kept banging into my purse (that wouldn't fit under the small table). The dessert was the best part! If you eat here, be sure to leave room for dessert!!!

    Cafe BaBaReeba is the only other tapas place I have tried and I preferred Cafe BaBaReeba.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/26/2010

    my favorite rest. in chi town. tapas, rioja wine and great service.

    this was my first good chicago experience and a very first restaurant in this town, so yes some sentimental bias :) , but the food alone is worth coming here.

    and if you're here on a thu nite and looking for some really good music spot after words, check out - chicago bar & grill on clark & chicago, around the corner

    ps: yelp's map is way off. it's near chicago ave, NOT lincoln park

    • Qype User superc…
    • Chicago, IL
    • 91 friends
    • 237 reviews
    4.0 star rating
    7/26/2008

    Note to you: They don't take reservation times for after 5:00 p.m. and it's packed on Friday & Saturday nights. Get there early!

    I'm not sure what everyone is all up in arms about with this place.

    I thought it was wonderful. i've been to Spain and eaten Tapas there, and realized that the US version of Tapas is lame to say the least. These little, tiny, overpriced portions that are difficult to even share. This results in that uncomfortable, Do you want the last shrimp? moment that I hated about Tapas.

    This place took me by complete surprise, the Tapas portions are hearty and really taste authentic (I didn't say good, I said authentic). The garlic mayo salad - tasted the same as if I was sitting in that dive Tapas place in Barcelona - the Chorizo was dead on and garlic shrimp, perfectly cooked. Their Plantains Foster was melting and gooey and also exactly what I wanted. OH! My favorite, scallops with saffron was better than the same I had for $40 at Bice a couple weeks ago.

    The Sangria is strong and delish.

    Negatives? Definitely the noise level and they forgot our sausage platter. We told them not to bring it anyways because we were fulland they brought it out anyway (and charged us for it). That was pretty lame.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/28/2010

    This place is my favorite tapas place! There are a few others in the city that are good, and may be fancier or may have patios, but Cafe Iberico is CONSISTENT.

    I love the tapas. I love the salpicon de mariscos (cold seafood vinagrette salad with lemon and basil) and the ensalada rusa (cold tuna/potato salad) and about 10 other dishes. They have a huge variety of hot and cold tapas. The portions are generous and the prices are very affordable. This place is just REAL.

    I haven't had the paella here, so I can't comment on that.

    The sangria flows and does the trick ;)

    The ambiance is lively and it has a true Latino feel. Nearly all the employees are bilingual. They are not going to dote on you in the American fashion, but are happy to get you what you need.

    The only draw back is that you might have to wait, a while, for seating depending on the day/time you go.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/7/2008

    Nothing beats Iberico in Chicago for tapas.  Tapas are about so much more than little plates of food; its about the ambiance and enjoying food with friends and this place has it.

    Yes, its crowded, popular, and can be a bit loud so if you're looking for a quiet dinner with that special someone, than get yourself a reservation at 1492 Tapas Bar a few blocks over (also a good option).  Service is slow?  Get over it and drink some more wine, its not the type of place to grab a quick bite.

    Can't wait to go back!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/13/2007

    I love coming here with a group of friends.  With its big spaces, substantial tiled tables, and loud crowded ambiance, it reminds me a bit of a German beer hall.  But I like it; it lends a friendly, communal vibe.  The food is excellent too.  Even friends who have had authentic tapas in Spain like this place!

    I recommend both the red and white sangrias, although I'm partial to the white.  It's refreshing and tart.  You can get a large pitcher or a smaller one to share with a loved one.  Some of my favorite tapas are the mussels and the spicy potatoes.  Whenever I come here I'm sure to order the lamb entree, too.  It's hands-down the most succulent, delicious lamb ever!  The potatoes and carrots that it's served with are equally fabulous.  The carmelized banana dessert is also a must-have.

    Am I drooling just talking about it?  Sorry about that.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/25/2011

    I love Cafe Iberico!
    I have been coming here since I set foot in Chicago 10 years ago.
    The food is good, the sangria is delicious, the ambiane is nice, and the staff is very friendly..what else to ask for??!!
    oh! right!! the prices.. they are great!! they very reasonable and the tapas portions are larger than most other Spanish restaurants..
    I take people there all the time and they love it!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/2/2008

    There is a lot of people who have commented about this place as dirty, smelly, loud, and practices bad service. They are right but they also have way to high of standards for a REAL tapas restaurant.  All this other tapas resutant that have been compared to are like the Chipotle's of tapas. COME ON! This is why so many Americans are look at as stuck up and picky, because they are! If you want a fancy place go to a fancy place.

    Cafe Iberico's is for the travels, friends, students, the easy-goers and those who bring the spirit to society and who ENJOY a classic place DISTINGUISHED by what others consider less than acceptable presentation. They also have exceptional food too!

    CAFE IBERICO IS A WONDERFUL PLACE THAT NO YUPPY WILL EVER UNDERSTAND!!!!!

    And since when does a dirty bar scar anyone if you are going to be concerned about that than you shouldn't be drinking at ANY bar for that
    matter.

    Try the caramelized Banana if you like to try new things!

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/13/2009
    1 check-in

    We had a period when we came here every month, but that was 4 years ago. The food was good, slightly inconsistent depends on how busy the restaurant is at the time, so don't go on the weekends or holidays. The standout to me are the potatoes (any kind) and anything with goat cheese. I also loved their flan, which I consider as the best I had in the city so far. If you know of any place with great flan please let me know!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/1/2010

    Pros
    Great location, near the brown line and close enough to river north/loop to meet after work or before going out downtown.
    A lot of variety. The whole point of tapas is to go with a group and enjoy a lot of different flavors. They offer plenty of unique dishes to satisfy the adventurous and the cautious. Big thumbs up on the rotating specials that keep the experience interesting for those who go there fairly often (tapas works for picky eaters).
    Reasonable wait times. They don't take reservations so most people would assume the wait can be 2-2.5 hours on Fridays and Saturdays. I've never had to wait over an hour, which is enough time to share a pitcher of sangria at the bar.  And you can show up with a big group and be seated no problem.
    Very good food. I wouldn't call it great, but the plates vary from just ok to terrific. I've never had something I hated there, though I prefer their seafood and vegetarian dishes to their meat dishes.  The pulpo is a real winner.
    Affordable! My friends and I are pretty big eaters. We always order a ton of food and sangria. Still it's never more than 20 bucks a person. In river north that is a STEAL.

    Cons
    Some of the food is oily. I've found this to be the case at most tapas restaurants, and Iberico is no exception. The artichoke dish would be a lot better if it weren't swimming in oil.
    Boisterous atmosphere. It's a big place which is why you don't have to wait too long, but it does get loud. I like some noise, but would prefer not to have to yell.

    So overall it's not perfect, but I will go there any day over Ba-Ba-Reeba or Emilio's. I haven't ventured much out of the Loop/River North/Lincoln Park/Lakeview area, but I don't feel like I need to in order to get great tapas for a reasonable price.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/2/2008

    I have had an interesting relationship with Cafe Ibercio for almost 5 years now.  Coming from a small town I was very hesitant to try things out of my realm of potato's and...well, that was about it.  But the more and more I go here, the more and more adventurous I become.  I think that is the best part of Tapas.  I would never have had octopus before, but thanks to my friend introducing me to it, it's now a staple for my trip to Ibercio.  

    For many of you the decision is normally between Ba-ba-ree-ba and this place.  I always choose here, hands down.  It is better quality food, cheaper prices, the sangria is better, and the selection is always changing with their "special" menu.  The only reason I didn't give this a 5 star is because they are kinda bitchy about having your party there before seating you, they don't take reservations, and sometimes it's hard for them to get a good seating area for groups of 7 or more.  However...all of that being said, it is still worth the visit and I always leave full, drunk, and not broke.  And what's better than that?

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/19/2007

    Fun place for a dinner and sangria. One of the first things my friend and I noticed at Cafe Iberico was the cheerful, loud and boisterous ambiance. Your neighbor's happiness is bound to rub off on you a bit when you come here.

    In the past, I had been to Cafe Iberico a couple of times and hadn't really been blown away by the food for some reason- maybe I just chose the wrong tapas. I was pleasantly surprised after my most recent visit last weekend. The tapas that we had really hit the spot, especially the scallops; they were the perfect texture and the slightly spicy sauce they were in was a pairing that was a first for me.

    The olives and mushrooms were really delicious too. There were 2 of us and we ordered a pitcher. Though it was really tasty, that was way too much for just the two of us. We barely finished half of it.

    For 4 tapas dishes and the pitcher of sangria, we each paid a little under $20 including tip.

    The Euro music was fun too. Overall, a very fun place to have dinner on the weekend.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/16/2009

    Best tapas in the city.  This is what a tapas place is supposed to be.  Reminds of places I ate at while in Spain.  The wait can be long but with reservation or as a couple, it's all good.  Queso de cabra, mejillones and patatas bravas are killer.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • Start your review of Café Iberico.

    Rating
    • Eek! Methinks not.
    • Meh. I've experienced better.
    • A-OK.
    • Yay! I'm a fan.
    • Woohoo! As good as it gets!

    Select your rating.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/21/2007

    Hey, I love tappas.

    Iberico was my first experince with tappas & I fell in love with the baked goat cheese covered in tomato basil sauce. Also they used to serve an amazing white chocolate/dark chocolate swirled mousse that I adored.

    The noise level can get annoying, but the overall ambience is wonderful.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/26/2007

    I LOVE TAPAS! That being said you don't have to do much at a tapas restaurant to get me excited! But Cafe Iberico topped them all!

    We went on a Friday night so we had a little bit of a wait. We went to the second bar, which is away from the busy doorway, and got a pitcher of sangria while we waited. While we stood there drinking our sangria we got to watch some weird TV show that was on without sound so we spent our wait time creating a story line and people watching. You have to watch the TV because they scroll who's up to be seated at the bottom of the screen - very high tech! This is definitely the best way to spend your wait time!

    The selection of tapas was more extensive than any other tapas restaurant that I've been to. Between 4 of us we had 2 pitchers of delicious sangria and probably 6 tasty, savory selections of small plates ranging from octopus to beef tenderloin! Considering how full and happy we all were when our meal ended I was surprised to see that the bill affected our wallets so minimally! This is a great place to share a meal, a laugh and a pitcher (or 2 or 3....) with good friends or family!

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/23/2010

    Sangria is delicious. As are all the tapas. My recommendations: goat cheese and patatas bravas will give you a great start.

    If you have a birthday make sure to tell the waiter and ask for the banana special.

    Can be difficult to get seated right away on weekends.  Everything is great, including the service.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/9/2010

    I've been to almost all of the tapas restaurants in Chitown, and I firmly believe Iberico is the best.  I have been coming here since '97 and never been disappointed. Reasonable prices, and lets not forget about the Sangria!

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/27/2008

    This place is so great for tapas. The food is delicious and always perfectly cooked. For hot tapas, the scallops are phenomenal and the chorizo is great. For cold ones, I love the olives here. But really everything is good. The only thing I would advise against is ordering the tilapia or any other piece of fish because it's difficult to split between a bunch of people.

    Caution: wait times are long. They don't take reservations. But don't despair! Chill at the bar and order yummy sangria.

    It's really great when you go with 4-6 people because your meal ends up being sooo cheap. My 5 friends and I ordered about 10 tapas and 3 pitchers of sangria and with tax and tip it was about $20 per person. Such a great deal.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/7/2010

    my family and i love the olive tapas!! esp the garlic we fight over it haha..the octopus and fries is probably the best one on the menu!! we also get one of the salads which is good because it hearts of palm and not many places serve it, but as far as taste goes it really has none at all so we have to spice it with salt and pepper

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/5/2008

    Went here on a Saturday night with about 10 people, took FOREVER to get seated....more time for everyone to spend money on drinks at the bar.  Why don't they just take reservations?

    Vegetarian tapas were average as a whole, my friends tell me the meat ones were excellent.  

    The sangria left something to be desired but it was pretty cheap so I won't complain.

    Around 9pm the place gets CRAZY and it ceases to feel like a restaurant; more like some kind of trendy club a la Sangria.  Hopefully it has better atmosphere on a weeknight, but until then, there are better tapas places in the city!

  • 1.0 star rating
    12/9/2009

    What was good: the valet parking.  The bar ambiance. The sangria.
    What was mediocre: The food (I've been to tapas in places like Madrid, Miami, San Francisco), the service.
    What was bad: the food poisoning. gambas al ajillo

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/19/2007

    This place is crazy busy yo! I went on a Thursday night at around 8:30 and our wait was about an hour and a half though we were told fourty-five minutes. We went to ask when we were going to be seated and each time we were told we were next. We only stayed because the later it got the less choices we had on where to eat. Moving on to other things; I didn't like their Sangria much. Way too bitter for me. The food was good, but I think that was because I was ravenous by the time I finally ate. I'll try again later and see if its any better in the area of service.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/16/2011

    Cheap Spanish tapas. The tastes exceed what you pay for.The Sangria is very good. Love the atmosphere although it gets loud at times. Great place to go with friends or just for a quick dinner.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/17/2008

    I like to have a girls tapas night. We went here once and it was good. Yummy food, delicious sangria. We ordered many many things. And drank several pitchers of sangria between the three of us. And the bill was cheap.
    I read a few other reviews on here. I want to say our girls night was a Monday so we had no wait time and no server issues. I wasn't really checking out the cleanliness level but I can get picky and there wasn't a problem. I like the atmosphere and layout here.
    i planning on returning soon and will update accordingly.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/19/2007

    I love this place. Awesome tapas, all the way around. This was the first place I had tried octopus that hadn't been fried to within an inch of its life (that was good too, but expanding my horizons and all...).

    I also particularly enjoyed the sangria; very tasty and fruity. They have some great drinks. The food came quickly and was priced reasonably. Had a little trouble actually getting the bill and then the card back, but it wasn't awful. Would definitely recommend!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/29/2010

    I love this place!  It's one of my favorite places to eat.  It's great for casual dining.  It's great for entertaining groups.  The sangrias here are delicious and reasonably priced.  The menu hasn't changed since I started going here, but why fix something that's not broken.  I frequent this restaurant at least once a month and will continue to as long as I live in Chicago.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/21/2007

    After all the hype that I've heard over Iberico, I have to say that I was more than a little disappointed when I went Saturday night.  The place was packed to the gills, but our wait was less than twenty minutes (the hostess said it would be at least forty minutes).  The sangria was OK; I've definitely had better.  

    And I know most people think that Ba-Ba-Reeba might as well be run by Satan himself, but I would have to say that the tapas are hands down better than Iberico's in selection and quality.  The service is better at Ba-Ba-Reeba's, too.  Our waiter brought us white sangria after we requested red.  I let that one go, but when he brought us clams instead of mussels, I couldn't hold my tongue.  Upon telling him that we ordered mussels and not clams, he got rather upset and stormed away.  

    If you live up north, save yourself the commute to Iberico's and hit up Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba on Halsted instead.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/13/2007

    YUMMY!!!

    I would move to Chicago just because of this place!

    The waiter was amazing - very attentive, friendly, humorous. I wish I could remember his name.

    They stay open until like, 1, which is a plus, and everything we ate was delicious. We waited about 40 minutes, walked around, and found out our name had been called already but they seated us anyway. I've tried a lot of tapas places in SF and this was one of the best.  

    The weird music videos were a turn off at first, but after some sangria, they actualy add to the atmosphere. I highly recommend Cafe Iberico.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/28/2010

    I adore the food here, but the wait is usually very long, and the bar crowded.  Go early or on a weeknight.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/22/2007

    One of my absolute favorite restaurants in Chicago.  Sure it's touristy and loud and has ridiculous waits on any given night.  But I can't recall a single time that I've gone to Cafe Iberico and not had an absolutely fantastic meal.  Some favorite dishes of mine: the grilled octopus, the steamed mussels, the paella iberica, the braised lamp leg and the baked goat cheese.  Wash it all down with a pitcher (or three) of sangria and be sure to save room for some flan!

    Cafe Iberico is also my favorite place to take folks visiting from out of town because apparently tapas is not as popular in other parts of the US.  Whenever I suggest to these folks that we go to Cafe Iberico, the conversation usually goes something like this:

    Me: So where do you want to go for dinner?

    Out of Town Guest: I don't know.  Do you have any recommendations?

    Me: Well, I'm a big fan of Cafe Iberico.  They have tapas there.

    OTG (suddenly with a confused look on his/her face):  Excuse me?

    Me: What?  You don't like tapas?

    OTG: You want to take me to a topless place for dinner?  Do they even serve food at those types of places?  

    Me: No, no.  Not topless.  Tapas.  As in Spanish tapas.

    OTG: Oh ok.

    (Look of relief comes to my guest's face.  Sometimes it's a look of disappointment but usually it's relief.)

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/24/2010

    I was introduced to Cafe Iberico a few years ago and I have been a huge fan ever since! I LOVE IT!
    We go 6 or more times a year. It is always yummy and fresh. We have our staple items we order off the Tapas menu and then we always try one or two of the specials to mix it up and bit.
    The drinks are great my favorite is the Caipirinha (Brazilian drink) that will knock your socks off!! AMAZING flavor. My Hubby loves the Mojitos.
    We usually have Sangria the white is my fav, clean, fresh and crisp with a hint of green apple and citrus, not to sweet but very refreshing.
    I love to finish the meal off with a warm cup of Cafe con Leche and a dessert. The chocolate rice pudding is die for however they have so many to try.
    This place is very affordable, fun to people watch and the videos are usually on the screen and from different countries so that can be interesting as well. Great for a big group.
    If your looking for intimate place to take a date to get to know someone closer, this is NOT a good place for that.
    BUT, if you wanna go out casual have fun EAT & DRINK and be happy, this is the place for you!!

  • 3.0 star rating
    9/3/2007

    Tapas and sangria at a fair price = merry making for all!

    We went during a Monday with what was originally ~15 person party.  Little did we know that (being part of an orientation week at school) that our party would eventually become 32.  Although we had to wait awhile, I thought the host really did a great job in accommodating us.  I had hoped to get the basement level, but was told it wasn't open that day.  Instead, the host arranged for us to get the elevated area in the back.  We were split up into 4 separate "tables" but it was great b/c they actually managed to fit all of us in one big dining area.  Mad props just for that!

    Honestly can't say I remember that much about the food - got a little crunked that nite.  I do remember that we had more dishes than ppl in our little group, and they got the orders all mixed up and sent to wrong ends of the table, but I can't really blame them considering how many of us there were - and I got to eat more, so no complaints here!  I think itthe grilled octopus was good - altho there are two types, I think the standard menu one was better.  Should probably give a more critical review of the food when I'm sober next time, but I had a great time here and our bill came out to less than $20/person;  I'll definitely return.

    Edit (9/27/07): I went back sober...food is still ok and great for the price and I love the service and the atmosphere, but our sangria was very watery and diluted...bad night?

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/29/2007

    Friday night + 1 friend + 1 pitcher or sangria + 4 delicious tapas + dessert + low price = a very happy girl with a full belly.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/26/2011
    1 check-in

    This place surprised me on two totally different levels. On a quick little two day jaunt to Chicago recently, just for the heck of it, I had Cafe Iberico recommended to me by a friend who lived in Chicago for a few years. Upon entering, the ambience immediately made me feel like I was walking into a club - not at all what I was expecting, but not bad! I would not recommend this place to anybody looking for a quiet dinner where you can have a quiet conversation whatsoever, but fortunately, that's not what I came for at all! The service was pretty good, fairly attentive, but not fantastic. We sat down at the bar and had some Sangria (HIGHLY recommended!!) while we waited for a table. They have a neat system of displaying names on screens throughout the bar area underneath delightfully euro-trashy music videos when tables are ready, so you can just hang out and enjoy yourself and not have to listen for your name to be called or deal with one of those buzzing lighty uppy "pager" things. We ordered 3 tapas and one paella, with the tapas coming out at various times and the paella coming out at the end. All of the food was absolutely delicious, and after 2 half-pitchers of sangria and enough food for at least 3 people (or two very hungry people,) our bill was still only in the $60 range. How cool! Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the ambience being as fun and euro-trashy as it was, and with how inexpensive a bunch of really tasty food was! Great for vegetarians and carnivores alike, just make sure you're ready for some dancey music while you eat.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/9/2007

    I really wanted to fall in love with this place, but it did not live up to its hype.  $ wise, and variety-wise, it's def. worth it (its menu is literally like a chinese menu with pictures), but quality wise, it doesn't like up to the aforementioned tapas places.

    The best dish I have to say is the grilled octopus. The queso de cabra (goat cheese), patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), mussels were pretty standard. I did NOT like the croquettas - despite what others have recommended - it tasted like deep fried ham and cheese sticks that had just been microwaved.  Also, the paella was just not good.  It was too yellow (too much saffron), and didn't have as much taste as other paellas, which makes me think they didn't cook/bake it long enough.  Also, the meat/seafood was minimal in the paella, a big no-no when the rice is already too yellow.

    One redeeming quality is that the sangria is delish - I love the red sangria.

    But all in all, tapas-wise, I prefer Meson Sabika (in Naperthrill), Twist, Bravo, and People Lounge.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/25/2008

    I do love this place for tapas, but I may have to have a trial separation and find a new place.

    Ever since they expanded, the quality of the food has gone down. I mean they still have a good tuna and potato salad but everything else just doesn't taste like it used to.

    Also, pass on the seafood paella....it's disgustingly salty.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/16/2008

    Aside from a Perkins that was embarrassingly a high school hangout, I've probably been to Cafe Iberico more than any other restaurant.  And especially in the beginning, it was sort of a magical place: no matter what random assortment of people I brought with me, by the end of the night and many pitchers o' sangria, people were a cohesive unit of fun stuffed with patatas bravas.  And as a bonus, somehow the bill was always far less than expected.  I wouldn't call it cheap, but if you're sharing with a large group (which is the way to go here) and taking advantage of the free bread, you'll leave full and spending probably less than $25.

    The tapas, overall, is quite good.  I usually hit the specials menu but also have a list of standbys: tortilla, sausages, croquettas, chicken skewers, marinated vegetables and beef tenderloin.  Plates are small, of course, and I'd recommend 2-3 per person for a hearty meal.

    Like others mentioned, that place gets packed fast.  They remodeled relatively recently and made the entry area slightly more manageable, but you still may be waiting outside for well over an hour if you're there during prime times.  

    I think partly for that reason, I fear I will eventually grow out of Iberico.  3 years ago it would have been a solid 5 star joint.  But, it can be a bit hectic and dealing with the crowds while there are so many other delicious places to choose from isn't as worth it as it used to be.  But for now, I will still stop by regularly for their wonderful sangria, happy patrons, and reasonably-priced small plates.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/18/2007

    To start you gotta get a pitcher of the Sangria, Red or White, doesn't matter.  I prefer the White but either is good.

    My Favorites:
    - Gambas Al Ajillo (Shrimp in Garlic sauce)
    - Pulpo a la Plancha (Octopus w/ potatoes & olive oil)
    - Queso de Cabra (Baked goat cheese with tomato basil sauce)
    - Calamares a la Plancha (Grilled Squid with olive oil)
    - Croquetas de Pollo (Chicken & Ham puffs)

    My friends and I usually only order the tapas and sangrias, no main course items so I cannot comment on that part of the menu.

    Can get very crowded especially on Thursday nights (If I remember correctly as it has been a while since I have been to Chicago).

    Good Spanish tapas at very reasonale prices.  I personally prefer it over Ba-Ba-Reeba.  Parking is by way of street parking if you are lucky enough to find one.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/25/2009
    1 check-in
    Listed in Se habla Espanol

    It was a cold Sunday afternoon...the kind where it's tough to get out of bed even for yummy food.
    But we did.
    And were glad about it!!
    Cafe Iberico is a little piece of Spain in Chicago. The main dining-room reminded me of a place I went to outside of Barcelona, another life-time ago.....no - I mean it...like 17 years ago.... It's warm and inviting and it almost feel like you are entering someone's place with all the dishes displayed on the back wall. The decor is not fancy at all, just rustic and straight to the point. Much like the cuisine. There is a large choice of cold and hot tapas on the menu and they also carry specials but everything you will get is simple and authentic. The most expensive seafood items are around $8-9. Most glasses of wine are around $6, and it's the same thing for cocktails!!!! The delicious desserts (their Crema Catalana is to die for) are only $4..........it doesn't get any better than that.
    So yes....Chicago has still a lot to do in the climate/weather department to match lovely Spain but at least you can catch a glimpse of its sweet sweet life at this wonderful place...
    Oh - and if you mind the noise, go there in the afternoon....it is lively but totally manageable. And it slows you down - Spanish style.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/25/2008

    The first time I went here was with my sister who lived in Spain for a year. So, any tapas restaurants she likes has to be good. When I walked in I really felt like I was back in Andalusia- very authentic. We got seated right away and we ordered 1 dish for each of us. We were going to a concert afterwords and didn't want to stuff ourselves. The atmosphere in Iberico was amazing, everyone looks like they are having a good time, drinking sangria and eating yummy tapas. A very fun night.

    The second time I went here, I called to see if I could make a reservation and they said they don't take them after 5. I was a little worried we'd have to wait for ever. We get there it's packed. We put our name down 30 min they say. 15 min later they call our names.  Super fast, everything was super fast our food came our in record time. They even told us it might take longer to get our food because the kitchen is very busy. The dishes kept coming and coming we'd order another dish and 5 minutes later it would be at our table. The service was amazing.

    I really enjoy this place for 2 reasons, the food it outstanding and the authenticity. It really feels like you are in Spain. I love it!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/4/2007

    Iberico is my favorite tapas restaurant in Chicago.  I enjoy the dishes much more than Cafe Ba Ba Reeba.

    This place is always busy and full of noise, which I like.  They take reservations for more than 4 so if you're a smaller party, watch out for the long wait.  However, the restaurant is very large so hopefully it won't be too long before you are seated.

    My favorite dishes:
    Pincho De Pollo (chicken skewers with carmelized onions + rice)
    Gambas Al Ajillo (marinated grilled shrimp)
    Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes with special tomato sauce)
    Croquetas de pollo (chicken and ham puffs)

    What I truly love about this place is the DESSERT!!!! YUMMY!!  I would go here just to eat them.  When you go, you HAVE TO GET:

    Filloa De Helado Y Crema- Stuffed crepe with ice cream topped with whipped cream and strawberry sauce
    AND
    Platano Al Caramelo- Sauted banana with caramel sauce served with vanilla ice cream.

    Seriously, you will love them, especially the ice cream crepe.  I have a huge sweet tooth and this always satisfies my cravings.  

    Usually I go in large groups, 7+ people and we order about 10 dishes.  Most tapas are about $5 but they have larger dishes which are about $9.  I like the sangria, especially the white one.  

    I think you should go here if you are craving tapas and make sure you get the dessert!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/10/2010

    My favorite tapas in the city. The sangria is excellent, I would recommend the pitcher! I'm not usually a big fan of octopus, but theirs is excellent. The gambas are delicious as well. They also have specials, and when we've ordered them they have been fantastic. I've never had problems with the service either. The wait time can be long, but it is definitely worth it.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/17/2010

    i've been here a few times and everything is so good. i alwys get the cold spanish omelette and have had the scallops (one of my favorites), the octopus w/ fries (if the tentacles freak you out, don't get it), the paella (huge portions, delicious, hot, loaded with ingredients) and much more.

    this is one of the few places in chicago i've been to more than once, and that says a lot.

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/26/2009

    I know that many people swear by Cafe Iberico, but quite honestly, I can't say that I've ever had a great dining experience there. I have eaten at Iberico upon many occasions and with lots of different people, from just grabbing lunch while working in River North to a large group event for a staff party one year. And every time it's the same; absent service, bland food, and a dining experience leaving me still hungry and wondering why everyone loves Iberico so much. The atmosphere itself is very Spanish and I do love the bar area and large tables in the main space, but the food itself is basically what you could get at other tapas joints and is nothing to write home about.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/13/2007

    I really wanted to like this place because one of the guys I was going with raved about it, but the food was bland and mostly over cooked.  Definitely NOT the best tapas I have had in the city from a taste perspective.  However the sangria was decent.

    We did get pretty decent service and were seated in only about 20 minutes even though we were quoted up to an hour wait.  

    I would normally only give two stars based on the quality, but this place was cheap as far as tapas usually go so I can ignore a little of the food quality since it was countered by good service.  For four of us to have multiple pitchers of sangria and walk away stuffed, the bill was only a little over $100 with tip, so that gets this review one extra star for the value.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/14/2009

    OMG. Love the tapas here. PATATAS BRAVAS,GAMBAS AL AJILLO,PULPO A LA PLANCHA, DELICIOUS!!! Not to mention the red sangria... Mmmmm. I would eat here every night if  I could. I always sit at the bar, so that I can get excellent service... Those guys are awesome :-)

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/4/2012

    I loved the tapas here- reminded me of my time in Spain!  I had patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo, and champinones a la plancha, all very delicious and very much like tapas I ate in Spain.  I wanted to order 5 other tapas just to see if they were as good, but alas there were only two of us.  The portions were large and would be excellent for a large group, as well as the seating area.  The sangria was also very nice.  Oh, and the rice pudding for desert was excellent!  The waitstaff was courteous and attentive.  We were there early- appropriately enough more like tapas time in Spain- so it was not over crowded at all and we got all the attention we needed.  It was not noisy and the ambiance was relaxed, including the choice of music.  Great place!

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/9/2007

    I didn't listen to the warnings and went on a Saturday night. The hostess said the wait was an hour - and then an hour later, it would be 20 more minutes - and then 20 minutes later...(you get the picture).

    I think the only reason we stayed was that we had already waited so long that we were determined to eat here.

    I didn't think it was worth it. Maybe if we had waited 20 minutes instead of 2 hours, but I'm still not sure.

    The food is average. The restaurant was crowded, the tables were so close together that we could barely have a conversation. (I didn't even think the sangria was that good.)

    Needless to say, I don't think I'll be back. Especially not when there are quite a few other tapas places to choose from - I would probably even go to Emilio's before I'd go back to Iberico. (And, gasp, that's a small chain!)

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/27/2007
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    I keep coming back to Cafe Iberico.  The service is always attentive and it can get rowdy at times especially around 8pm but the food and service keeps me coming back.

    I'm pretty amazed at the fairly inexpensive plates for such a trendy place in River North but I'm pretty happy.

    I'd recommend the Jamon Iberico which is the cured ham, machengo cheese, and tomato bread.  It's light but hits the spot when you're having your pitcher of Sangria.

    The Sangria can be a tad bit sweeter but that's my personal taste.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/4/2007

    what can I say.........I have been to ba ba reeba, so I cannot rate cafe iberico as highly.  I would be lying if I said iberico even comes close.

    I went to iberico last night.  It had been YEARS since going to iberico to dine.  Well, the food was good.  It was not terrible.  The patatas bravas are different from the ones from ba ba reeba.  The special we ordered, a beef tenderloin w/ roncal cheese was good!  The scallops were awesome - actually, the best thing I had last night!  The gambas al ajillo were just not that good.....maybe it was missing the pepper flakes that ba ba reeba adds to theirs?  Regardless, all the food was edible, nothing was horrible.  I just like what I like.  =)

    It was a nice dinner, good company, and very sneaky sangria!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/26/2010

    I wanted to give them 5 stars, but something was missing...I loved the decor, food was excellent, service was efficient...yet something was lacking-atmosphere?  music?  Can't really point to it! Will definitely be back for more tapas!

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/14/2010

    Recently went here again for my wife's bday, what a riot! This place is fantabulous!! Sangria pitchers rock!! Ambiance is great!! Perfect place to pre-party before heading out to the clubs! ohh and the tapas are the BEST i've had in Chicago!! Plus its pretty reasonable considering its in downtown. Absolutely love this place! they don't take reservations so be prepared to wait an hr or two on weekends! oh btw, if u do go for a bday or other occasion and in the mood for something fun, ask ur waiter/waiterss for the "naughty cake"...trust me, u will be glad u did! Just don't order that if u're going there on a first date unless ofcourse u want to get slapped! ;) lol

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/8/2010

    Queso de Cabra. Pulpo de Plancha. Sangria. Friends.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    12/18/2007

    Easily the most authentic tapas in Chicago. Everything was reminiscent of Spain, from the patatas alioli (so garlicky that it burned!!) to the tasty paella that brought us back to the cheap caf paellas on our honeymoon in Barcelona. Nothing high-end, but it was all very reasonably priced and absolutely delicious. And how wonderful it is that you can purchase the Spanish hams and cheeses from their deli!  And who doesn't love $13 pitchers of Sangria?

    The red snapper entre was just "okay", but everything else was so authentic and delicious. We were stuffed with a healthy serving of paella and patatas leftovers, including a pitcher of sangria and a delicious crema catalana desert for under $60, including tip. I can easily predict that this will be my new favorite restaurant in the city.

  • 1.0 star rating
    9/8/2009

    So I finally  got dragged to this place. Maybe I could stomach the bland/over done food if it wasn't for the huge older plastic sorrority/frat crowd.  But I guess this is a great place if you're from Elgin and you want to roll play, pretending to be all "internacional". Of course in order to do this you have to confuse yuppie with sophistication.  But if you grow up and want real Tapas, check out  Azucar. But please no Cubs hats or Bears jerseys, and they don't serve Budlite!

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/8/2007

    I love coming to this place.  It never disappoints.  We always start off with the grilled mushroom, the goat cheese, along with a few other dishes and then wrap it up with the scalloped paella.   Both the white and red sangria are great with the chunks of fruit.  I prefer the white over the red though but that's just me.

    The service has always been good to us so I can't complain.  Definitely good if you've had some experience with tapas or even if it's your first time.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/15/2007

    I would have liked to give 3 1/2 (Yelp! Can we get at .5 star option?) but didn't feel I could quite do a 4.

    For Cafe Iberico I'll say this:
    Food was decent
    Service was decent
    Selection was decent

    But the reason behind the 3-stars is, I've had better. A decent meal does not a 5-star review make.

    For a Spanish restaurant, I felt the sangria left something to be desired (it tasted to me like a nicer version of a Carlo Rossi jug "sangria") and the service, while moderately attentive, was not the most helpful. And nearly $7 for a single cut-up empanada the size of my (small, girlish) hand? That's a little more than I think is right to charge.

    Going with two other ladies, we shared some of the cheaper options like the patatas bravas, mixed with not so cheap fare, like the shrimp and lomo. The pork was very good, and very tasty. The potatoes were so-so. The seafood bisque was worth it.

    If the food had been better or the fare had been cheaper, I would have been overall more satisfied. Still, it's a nice place to go, and perhaps other menu options I didn't try (like the full plate raiciones) would be more pleasing.

    But to also give full disclosure so as not to be unfair to Cafe Iberico: I'm used to super cheap, well-sized tapas from Granada, Malaga or Sevilla where they are less than the equivalent of $2 (or free with a drink order), which could be why I gripe about the price.

    Go in with an open mind and maybe temper your expectations a little, and you should have a good experience.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/22/2007

    Memories, light the corner of my mind.

    The way I remember Cafe Iberico, I'm hunched in the middle of mi amigos with tapas up and down the table in both directions. Some plates were in danger of falling off, but the pitchers of sangria were safe and secure and within reach, so no one was too worried. The lights were down low, the music was pumping high to an Andalusian pitch, you had to scream to be heard, and it's hard to tell what was loudest -- the soundtrack, your vocals, your stomach growling, or your gut digesting. In fact, when I went to Spain for the very first time last fall and found myself elbow to elbow with locals on many a stop on plenty of tapas tours, I thought to myself -- Cafe Iberico got it right.

    Last night when we went, I had to wonder if we were at the same place (a couple of circles around the block in a plaintive attempt to find street parking that ultimately ended up in the hands of the valet was our first clue that we didn't, indeed, pull up to a wrong spot). I almost had to wear my sunglasses when we stepped in -- bright! Open! Airy! Muted music! Plenty of room to maneuvre! Are we not in Spain anymore?!

    Idealistically speaking, the remodelling was a good thing. Room to move and toast and order more tapas, no need to see the shrink for claustrophobia next week. And the sangria as cold and just-nice sweet as I remember, the large variety of tapas as tasty as I fantasise (and mi dios, still the same good prices like the pre-Euro days). If you truly yearn for a more Spanish atmosphere, then revel in the the Latin time the waiters abide by in their service.

    But while Papa Hemingway would not have been pleased, we were ecstatic with our selection of patatas bravas, championes a la plancha, queso de craba, croquetas de pollo, calamares a la plancha, a grilled veal tenderlion, and ensalada de vegetales.

    And, to be perfectly honest, after many rounds of sangria, the music does seem louder, the lights dimmer, and the room smaller. I'm just saying!

  • 1.0 star rating
    7/13/2007

    You know years ago i was a big fan of this place. THe food currently is decent, and the sangria is good, but  the service is HORRIBLE! The last time i went, the waitress was extremely rude and could not be bothered. Yet, ofcourse she took the time to add 18%  gratuity to a table of 4 DESPITE the bill clearly stating grat is added to parties of 6 or more. After i confronted her she explained that grat was added because my table could seat 6. Management was useless.
    SO BEWARE OF WAITERS.  Go if you want cheap food, horrible service, overcrowded enviroment and dirty waiter tricks the likes you would find at cheese cake factory,...then this is your place.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/7/2008

    This is one of the places i bring everyone when they visit me in chicago! The most consistent and best tapas place in the city. My favorites are the shrimp with garlic and olive oil (gambas al ajillo) and the goat cheese in tomato sauce (queso de cabra). Patatas bravas are decent and so is the sangria.

    it is a fairly large place with a second level of seating in the basement (try to avoid it though) but it gets packed on weekend evenings.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/28/2009
    1 check-in
    Listed in Chicago Classics

    Always a lively environment and never a disappointment, Cafe Iberico has once again exceeded my expectations, serving up traditional favorites...Jamon Iberico, Championes al la plancha, Pulpo a la plancha, Roxo adobado...this place will stay on my list of favorites and top recommendations for those looking for a great meal (perfect for large groups) in an energy-filled environment....groups both large and small will enjoy this venue that will work to make your evening fun no matter the occassion, just let the hostess or your waiter know what they can do and they will work to accomodate your requests....

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/18/2008

    The food is decent.  Not fabulous, but okay.  The queso de cabra is tasty, but that's hard to mess up.  I also always like the croquetas de pollo.  However, I'm giving it four starts for three reasons: 1) it is cheaper than most other tapas places in the city, and decent; 2) the sangria is always fantastic; and 3) it is always one of my favorite places to go with a group, because it is lively and fun.   Because of the low cost of the sangria pitchers, we always leave happy.
    By no means is this above-average tapas, but it's worth a go.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/8/2007

    Great food...but the music is TOO GOSH DANG loud.  If you sit on the south side of the restaurant it isn't too bad but on the north side, you better know sign language to communicate with one another.

    I have been going to Cafe Iberico since it opened.  I was one of the lucky few that was there a month before it opened at an event that included a small bunch of friends of the chef and owners.  When it started it was a great place to meet with your friends and have great food and sangria.  Now it is a place that is a fire hazard, a long wait for your table (at least 3 hours) and music that would ruin your ear drums.

    I highly recommend that people go before the dinner crowd comes to enjoy their time.  If not, there are other Tapa restaurants that are better.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/10/2011

    I used to love this place 5-10 years ago. They were the best tapas place in town. However they renovated and got rid of a lot of the old charm that I loved. They also got rid of the bacon wrapped dates! How could you have a menu without bacon wrapped dates?? I have to be honest and say I haven't been back in over a year now so maybe  they've put them back on the menu...

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/24/2010

    Overrated - everything I had was just ordinary and the sangria was just average. Much rather go to Cafe Baba Reeba or better yet, Tapas Barcelona in Evanston. Best.Sangria.Ever.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/6/2009

    This is the best tapas place I have ever seen out of Spain. I know there are lots of fancy tapas out there but Iberico is the real thing for me. I grew up in a Spanish city so I know about tapas. My favorite stuff at Iberico is pulpo a la gallega, which is not on the menu, but you can order it. It's cooked octopus on a wooden tray with fragrant olive oil and a special kind of paprika. The octopus dish they have on the menu is some kind of salad with vinaigrette. I prefer pulpo a la gallega a million times. They also sell all kinds of awesome cans in the deli. Their wine selection is perfect for me and their sherry selection is above and beyond. Of course this is my opinion. Now when it comes to tapas, as I said before, I grew up in a Spanish city so trust me, this place is worth it.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/5/2007

    Iberico needs no review as it's been around for ages, but as one of my Chicago favorites, I just had to put my mark on.

    If you live in the suburbs, don't even bother on weekends...that's when it turns into a crazy house and the wait is unbearable.  For us city folk, make sure to make this your weekday dinner out place.  You'll enjoy authentic true-to-taste tapas.  I just came back from Spain, and the tapas in the small bars and taperies around town (and I'm not talking Las Ramblas touristy crap), is what Iberico reminds me of.

    Make sure to get a pitcher (no less) of the Sangria and my favorite is the Vieras a la Plancha (scallops over saffron rice).

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/23/2010

    This is my default restaurant for just about anything.  I was worried that visiting Spain after being a loyal patron to this restaurant for so long would ruin any experience post-Spain, but it only reminds me of exactly the way that authentic tapas restaurants are.  The food is ALWAYS good, the service is always quick and friendly, and the sangria is always flowing.  I regularly bring out of town guests here.  The prices are great and the portions are generous.  You absolutely cannot go wrong.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/24/2007

    This place is the exception to my dislike of loud, crowded restaurants. Here, it's just part of the experience. Face it, you WILL wait. A long time. You might want to have a snack before you head down there... or maybe keep a Powerbar in your pocket for a little sustinence, just in case.

    But once you do get to eat, eat you will! I really don't know where to start to write any sort of "complete" review. Everything I've had has been good, from the goat cheese in marinara to the calamari to the shrimp to the desserts... and the Sangria is top notch. Servers have been pleasant and attentive, and dishes come and go in a timely fashion.

    I look forward to going back.

    They do take reservations, but it's only for 6 or more.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/15/2009
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    I came here for my birthday. I was a tad hesitant, because I've been before and I let a friend pick everything and I only liked it a little bit. For my birthday I came with a group of 8 and we all ordered different stuff. Im the biggest wuss, I ordered grilled chicken salad type stuff. Seriously who uses that as their choice lol. Anyhow everyone else was picking octopus, shrimp, salmon, goat cheese and it was ALL excellent. I LOVED the octopus and the garlic potatoes, I've been craving them ever since. The drinks were big and good!! They carry Effen Black Cherry Vodka and that always makes me happy! I recommend this to everyone. Even if you're nervous just give different things a try you'll love it!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/16/2010

    I absolutely love this place. Always the perfect place for a celebration or to hang with friends. Family style tapas food is great espicially the shrimp and mushrroms. Red Sangria by the pitcher is the best.

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/10/2006

    Premise: I have been a vegetarian for 15 years. I have visited countless restaurants across the country, even made it through Poland and Prague without ingesting meat. When I previewed Iberico's menu, I did not foresee any vegetarian-lifestyle-killers. There were plenty of salads and seemingly vegetarian items. Until the following scene unfolded -

    Me to waitress: "This white bean soup. What is in it?"
    Waitress to me: "Beans."
    Me to waitress: "Okay, but what is its base? Does it have ham or cream or beef or anything like that?"
    Waitress to me: "No, it's beans."
    Me to waitress: "Okay... beans?"
    Waitress to me: "Yes."
    Me to waitress: "Okay, well then I will have the white bean soup."

    *Awkward conversation with dinner companion until plates arrive. Strangely the waitress brought both of my plates about 15 minutes before she brought the other person's. Finally all of our orders arrive.*

    I take spoonful of soup. I spit spoonful of soup into my napkin. I flag down waitress -

    Me to waitress: "So, you're telling me this just has beans in it? No ham, nothing like that?"
    Waitress to me: "No, just beans. No ham. Beans... and it has sausage."
    Me to waitress: "Okay... so you realize that I have not eaten meat for 15 years. Because you told me that the soup only contained beans, I just ate one of the most repugnant varieties of meat possible, right?"
    Waitress to me: "So you don't want the soup?"

    At that point I imagine I turned a lovely shade of green, and shot the waitress a look that is usually reserved for cat-calls on the red line. I thought that things had hit as low as possible. Until my fellow diner (who will not again be dining with me) pulled out this gem -

    Fellow diner to me: "You won't die. I promise."

    And he was right. I did, in fact, live through the night. I certainly hope both he and my lovely waitress enjoyed the rest of the evening. I spent the rest of it retching. Psychosomatic. I know. But this reveals something that could have been a lot more dramatic. If a diner allergic to nuts asked if a dish had peanuts in it, and the waitress said no, and the diner asked if it had cashews, and the waitress said no, and the diner ended up in anaphylactic shock because the dish, instead, contained walnuts, Iberico would have a far bigger problem on their hands than a disgruntled vegetarian.

    So, granted, my visit was extremely skewed by many negative inputs, and your visit will likely be far better, but I will never be returning to Iberico and will probably curse it every time I pass by on the 156.

    Boo, Iberico. Boo.

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/9/2007

    SO many people raved about this place. My friends, my mom's spanish friend, the yelpers here...so I was really expecting something impressive. Unfortunately, expectations were not met. The atmosphere is not bad, but something I wasn't expecting, especially for something downtown. Outside looked so trendy but inside was more rustic Spanish.

    My mom and I went and sat down at a tiny table, where we later realize it barely had room for our tapas and our own plates. We were given a basket of bread, but the bread was dry and rock hard. We ended up ordering 5 tapas, all hot. The calamari squid was good, the chicken skewers wasn't bad, the clams were alright, the sausage and potatoes were ok, and the pork was dry and tasteless.  Maybe we didnt know what to order, but none of the food was great. The service was also mediocre. Price-wise, its good, but I would have prefer to pay more for something better.

    I used to take Spanish in HS and every semester we would have a global feast, where all the students had to make Spanish dishes to bring to share. I swear those dishes tasted better than this.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/7/2007

    I came here once at 10pm on a weds night, still had to wait couple minutes for a table.  It's that popular.  The paella and tapas are authentic and good.  May not be the best tapas place, but the low prices does make me feel like I'm back in spain again.

    Don't want to make this place more crowded, but one other time I was here, the restaurant TV was playing some spanish drama/soap during dinner.  And this particular show had a lot of female nudity.  So I may have to upgrade to a 5-star rating if this happens more often...

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/11/2009

    I went here once with my sister and a few friends, since I'm not local to Chicago this was a treat. We tried both red and white sangria which were excellent, and sampled several tapas. My favorite was the clams in white wine sauce but everything was delicious. When I'm in the windy city again, it will be on the list.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/12/2011

    i already liked this restaurant a lot--been here several times over the years. i went the other night though and was pleasantly surprised to find that 3 weeks ago they introduced a new concept to the restaurant. now, on top of all their regular tapas, they offer smaller portion tapas. when you enter the restaurant it looks sort of like a sushi bar. they have 50+ different small plates that you can order by number. the plates are perfect for 2 people to share and allow you to taste a great deal more things than the other size. the best part? each dish is between two and three dollars. thank you cafe iberico--this is now officially my new fave place to go out on a budget.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/14/2007
    34 check-ins
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    Cafe Iberico is probably my favorite place to eat. I come here at least every other week, and as long as there is a Cafe Iberico, I will be a faithful patron.  IThink I'm a little obsessed. Everything on the menu is awesomtastic, and since it's a tapas restaurant, you get to sample everything. Iberico is very affordable, even the sangria.  I can seriously eat the patatas bravas, the almejas, the pincho de solomillo, the paella, the queso de cabra, and EVERYTHING else on the menu every frickin day for the rest of my life. Love the Jamon Serrano from the deli too.

    The best part: one can easily leave the restaurant without paying more than $50 between a group of 3. The staff, the bartenders, and the manager Nelson are some of the nicest people ever.  Iberico is the perfect place to go before a night out.

    Yummy!

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/23/2007

    first off, this is largest cafe in the history of cafes. It's large, loud & packed. the large comes from the labyrinth of rooms this place has. loud comes from the MTV tres that's blaring out of the speakers. They display the next available table on the screens, so you're forced to watch these ghetto music videos. Nothing makes you feel old than a music video staring bouncing cars & shiny rims.

    But, the food was good and quite really reasonable. The food is a three star, but the experience is worth an extra star.

    We were a Party of Five (I get to be Bailey!) that ordered a few drinks, 7 tapas, three desserts & coffee & we walked out just $20 lighter each. After waiting for the table, thankfully, the food came quickly. It was all fresh & tasty & well worth suffering through that damn "Ga-so-leee-Nah" song for.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/14/2009

    pretty good!  everything went swimmingly and the food was a wonderfully priced tapas option in the heart of river north.  

    it has a wonderful vibe to it.  i also liked that they seemed to have a lot more seafood to their tapas menu than a few other places that i've been to.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/17/2011 Updated review

    best tapas place in chicago .... hands down!

    5.0 star rating
    10/3/2010 Previous review
    best croquetas in town!  a really nice wine selection!

    the place gets crowded every day (so it must…
    Read more
  • 4.0 star rating
    7/15/2010

    Great food and tasty sangria.  I'll just say three quick things:

    1. Don't let them seat you downstairs! The atmosphere is 100 times better on the first floor.

    2. Make sure to try the rabbit!

    3.  Don't leave without ordering a paella! Order it as soon as your waiter arrives so it comes out in a timely manner.

    I've been there twice, and I can't wait to go back again!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/15/2008

    To start with, I wish the rating system would allow you to choose your ratings in half star increments.   If it would I could give Cafe Iberico 3.5 stars...

    The upside:

    The Tapas was tremendous.  Our group of 11 shared just about everything around and the only things I found to be so-so were the shrimp (Gambas Al Ajillo; which were cooked just right, but only tasted so-so) and one of the potato dishes(Patatas Bravas) which we ordered two of.   The first one came out just right and the second one someone must have spilled the cayenne pepper in.

    All the other dishes were simply wonderful.  The fish and steak were done just right.  The taste was full, but not too spicy and the prices were surprisingly low.  Even the clams (Almejas En Salsa)  where wonderfully done and taseful, something I can rarely say with clams.

    The restaurant was beautifully decorated and seemed quite authentic.  

    The downside:

    Cafe Iberico is EXTREMELY noisy.   I could barely hear the person next to me, let alone across the table.  It would seem a simple thing for the management to install some sort of sound abatement but it has not been done.  I found myself yelling on more than one occasion, and missed most of the conversation.

    I did not try the desert, but several people had the Flan and found it mediocre at best.

    In summary I had a wonderful time at Cafe Iberico.  I loved the food and the decoration.   However the sound problem is something that was quite frustrating.  This is not the place that I would take a date or expect to be able to transact any conversation.  So if you're looking for a great, cheap meal I heartily recommend it, but if you're looking to socialize, go elsewhere.

    - Andrew

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/4/2007
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    Not that Cafe Iberico needs another review, but I can't not add my voice to the chorus of ovations.  I love Cafe Iberico the way I love my left leg.  Sure I could get along if I didn't have it, but would it really be a full life?  

    During the World Cup we went there at least once a week.  Now we're back to our usual once a month.
    My Iberico preferences:  
    *going in the afternoon (it's too freakishly crowded in the evening, I'm sorry)
    *sitting in the bar (while the new tables lack the cuteness of the old mosaic hightops, at least there's more room to pile on the plates)
    *drinking a bottle of wine each in the winter, spring and fall
    *drinking more than one pitcher of sangria in the summer
    *raxo adobado
    *jamon iberico
    *croquettas de pollo
    *championes a la plancha
    *tipping well because you can eat so much for so little

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/17/2008

    Go with your homies, grub it up on the amazing tapas and sample the OLIVES (nothing like these, kids, I swear the best I have ever had), goat cheese, potatoes and mussels. It's loud, sure, and always crowded, but fun and perfect for a night out with the fun ones. I like sitting cafeteria style (or close to it) to meet fellow tap-in-ators and slug down the sangria. Not a big fan of the stuff, but its a fan fave.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/12/2007

    This is an excellent spot for a late night meal, or a mid-afternoon snack when out and about in this area. Iberico has great food, which is more often than not well-seasoned and prepared well. The service is usually pretty good; occasionally I think the servers are stretched to cover too many tables, but they've always been professional and as attentive as they can be. Very good sangria, by the way.
    The best part is that you can eat and drink well and not break the bank. Always a winner in my book!

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/15/2009

    I. Love. Cafe. Iberico.
    I was first introduced to this restaurant by my high school Spanish teacher. (Thanks, Senora!) We went here on a field trip, and ate our hearts out. I must admit that I was initially intimidated by many items on the menu... I don't like fish, and vegetables aren't exactly my style. Not to mention the fact that I can't speak Spanish to save my life, so I didn't know how to say the names of any of the dishes.
    Whatever. I ordered in my pathetic butchered version of Spanish, accompanied by much pointing to the menu. It took a while for our food to arrive, maybe because we were in such a large group. But when it did... Oh boy. The closest thing I've ever had to a culinary orgasm ensued. The champinones... Incredible. Make sure to dip your bread in the sauce--DO NOT WASTE IT. IT IS FARRRR TOO GOOD. The patatas alioles... potato salad with garlic?! Could it get any better?! And oh my God, the aceitunas... I love olives, but they take it to a new level.
    One day, I decided to be a bit adventurous and try the queso de cabra, or goat cheese. Greatest decision of my life.
    I love this place. I've never had outstanding service here, but I could frankly care less, when the food is this good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/3/2010

    Love this place.  I went for my third time on 4/30/10 with my wife. We arrived at 9:30 and had a 45 min. wait for a table. Honestly, the crowd and the wait is one of the things I like about this place. It's crowded, loud, and bustling.  The sangria is spot on. We had 5 tapas dishes and a pitcher of sangria for 55 bucks with tax; not bad for a night out in Chicago. Some of the tapas are better than others; can be hit or miss.  We had one of the specials, zucchini stuffed with meat, which was my favorite on this visit.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/5/2007

    I like that Iberico is open late - and it used to be more authentic (like in the 90's - when it was 1/3 of the size, before the expansion) - but alas, it's still has some good tapas:  Salpicon de mariscos, a cold seafood salad, Jamon Iberico with Queso Manchego -deelish.

    The Almejas en Salsa Verde can get a little salty sometimes - (clams in a white wine sauce with herbs)

    however, with the price, it's safe to be adventurous -

    the sangria is decent - not the best.  

    And, yes, get there on off hours (or after midnight) for better service or suffer the consequence of sitting literally 2 inches away for the table beside you.

  • 1.0 star rating
    10/29/2011

    I used to go to Cafe Iberico at least twice a month and always had a great time.  Then for whatever reason I stopped going there for a couple of years.  When I returned I thought everything was a bit off, the quality of food had gone down and the prices had gone up so I didn't go back until today.

    Let me first say I love good tapas, go I to several other tapas places in Chicago and I've been to Spain a few times and eaten lots of tapas.  All that being said, what a disappointment.  Yes the sangria was good and if I was looking to get loaded at lunch this wouldn't be a bad choice.  The place was busy but oddly quiet, no music just TVs showing Spanish football.  The tapas were just plain disappointing.  The olives tasted strange and were mushy.  The jamon platter was odd, the toast was soggy, there was a thick coating of chopped tomato on it and included one slice of jamon Iberico.  The shrimp was fine but bland.  The queso de cabra, again came with soggy bread which used to be toast rounds.  Finally the mushrooms, which turn my wife into someone who would eat mushrooms, were sad.  They used to use small button mushrooms and caramelize them, these where large mushrooms of varying types and I'm not sure how they were cooked but I didn't care for them.

    I'm so bummed because I was really hoping Care Iberico would deliver but it didn't.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/13/2007

    There were a TON of people in this restaurant - we thought it would be an hour plus wait.  Luckily we got there early and were seated within a half hour.  Later when we finished our meal and were on our way out the door, I overheard people complaining that it would be a 2 hour wait - I'm really glad we went early!

    We ordered:

    Jamon Iberico - Spanish style cured ham with manchego cheese and tomato bread.  This was delicious and was more than enough for two people.  

    Ensalada Mixta - Spanish style mixed salad with asparagus, beets, hearts of palm, endive, dressed with our vinaigrette and wine dressing.  This was a big and tasty salad.

    Croquetas De Pollo - Chicken and ham puffs served with ali-oli sauce.  Not good at all.  I've had better (Zarzuella in San Francisco).  These were too mushy and pasty and tasted really ham-y.  I ended up using the ali-oli for the home-made fries from another dish.

    Raxo Adobado- very thin pork loins served with home-made fries was pretty good.  

    Gambas Al Ajillo - shrimp with garlic was our all time favorite in Spain but we still haven't found a place that does them any justice here.  They were ok at Cafe Iberico but not great.  We were hoping they would have Bacalao (dry salted codfish) on their menu but they didn't.

    The drinks here were very good - sangria, cerveza, vino, fino, cappuccino, latte.

    I was disappointed that they didn't offer churros con chocolate for dessert.  We ordered their version of tiramisu which was actually pretty tasty.

    The whole meal including beverages (for two) came out to under $50 (not including tip)!   For decent tapas, dessert and plenty of beverages this is an incredible deal.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/27/2008

    Anyone remember this place "back in the day"? (when they didn't have the whole block) This was my 'go to' place. The food was great, service staff was super friendly, and just damn good time.

    Now, the place seems to be more concerned with seating and getting out as many people as possible.

    The staff seems bitter and not friendly at all. I get it that you have to lug around 15 dishes on one arm, but don't take it out on me.

    The food feels like it's been sitting under a Burger King heat lamp for hours. Remember the days when the shrimp would come out all lined up in the dish ? I think now one guy stand on one side of the room and the other guy throws a bunch of shrimp at him, whatever lands in the dish is what's going out to the table.

    The sangria still kicks a$$ though.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/14/2007

    Holy cow this place is crowded.  And for good reason.  The food is awesome, wine selection always has you trying new things, and a great value.  But it's so insanely packed all the time.  They really should open four more of these in the city.

  • 3.0 star rating
    2/28/2010

    Nothing special.  Yet, if you want an average tapas place, on the cheaper side, check it out.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 2.0 star rating
    11/20/2006

    Everybody loves this place, but I'm not super impressed.
    For starters, there was a reservation for a large group. It took them almost an hour to seat us. AN HOUR.
    And it's god awful loud in there. Crowded and loud. No charm.
    Our large group got no assistance in ordering (however they did keep the pitchers of sangria coming). None of us are tapas masters and were a bit lost - thank god we blindly chose some good dishes.
    I wouldn't bother going back.
    The food was good but everything else was extremely disappointing. So two stars I give.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/6/2007

    DELISH!

    Very comparable to genuine Spanish tapas.  Try everything, drink lots of sangria, enjoy the cafe-like decor, and hang out there for a few hours.

    Love it!

    The only shitty thing is if you and your friends decide to go last minute on a Friday or Saturday night, you will for sure wait for 1.5+ hours with no guarantee of a spot at the bar...

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/25/2007

    Good food for cheap. Having just returned from Spain I'll have to return and do a little taste comparison while consuming a bit of Sangria.

    The place is big and the service is fast and courteous. A good mid-week hang out.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/3/2007

    Do fries go with that beef?

    I had a lunch date on Saturday at Cafe Iberico and I'm kind of fence sitting on it.  I admittedly like the tapas at People in Wicker Park much better, but Iberico's Sangria was plenty fine (ask my date...he'll tell you just how fine I thought [hiccup] it was...)

    I really want to rate Iberico better than three stars, but my fries were a bit oldish and overdone..think last-shift at McDonalds fries and the balsamic vinaigrette that came on my chicken salad was a bit tasteless.  

    I will give it to Iberico for having my favourite Spanish red on special - the Sangre de Toro - it's a beautiful red and you must try it!

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/3/2007

    Cafe Iberico is my favorite place for Spanish tapas in Chicago. They have the perfect combination of food, price and atmosphere. I think it is shameful that other tapas restaurants charge sometimes twice as much for their tapas when the portions and taste do not compare to Iberico's moderately priced offerings. Among my favorites are the patatas bravas and the pulpo a la plancha.

    Cafe Iberico is one of those sure places in Chicago that has stood the test of time and does not disappoint. This is a great place to entertain a big group of friends/family.  If you are going on the weekend, expect to wait a long time to be seated.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/22/2009

    This is a yummy restaurant. I have only been there a couple times-with my mom and then with friends, but have never been disappointed. Their red sangria is to die for and I love their goat cheese/marinara on toasted bread. Delish! Fun place & great food! You can't miss!

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/7/2007

    Came here for the first time today for lunch. it was'nt realy crowded but they did seem a bit understaffed still. i had very high expectations of this place and i was sort of disappointed. We ordered 5 hot tapas and a entree. beef and chicken skewer was very dry, i did not like the taste of the sauce with the chicken. The
    stuffed quail was very good. the sausages was burnt. And there was nothing special about the shrimp. We had lamb shanks for the entree, that wasnt too bad. desert was just okay. Ifi had to describe the food in one word, i would say it's "mediocre". Perhaps we came at the wrong time, but i will give this place another try.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/10/2007

    Iberico sets the standard for Tapas in America.

    Their sangria is the best in the world.

    Be prepared to wait for it--they don't take reservations for groups under 6 or 8.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/18/2006
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    I do know that if you stop by this place during the weekend when everyone is out and about than you are certainly bound to wait for a very long time.  Its because the food is so good and so are their sangrias.  I've been to a few different tapas restaurants within Chicago and this is by far the best one.  All of their tapas are great; my faves being the gambas al ajillo and pincho de pollo.  

    I admit, I hate going late on the weekends because usually while you wait you have a pitcher and by the time you sit down your pretty buzzed.... but it is so worth it because the drinks and food are very delicious.

  • 2.0 star rating
    9/23/2008 Updated review

    Its officially become a cafeteria. They are in the process of expanding yet again! There is a critical mass point all restaurants meet after which the food is no longer good -- Cafe Iberico has reached that point. Too many people, too many tables and not enough time spent on making good food.

    4.0 star rating
    8/6/2008 Previous review
    I'm not really sure how I haven't written a review for Cafe Iberico yet because I have been coming… Read more
  • 2.0 star rating
    1/8/2009

    Meh is all i can say.. the food wasnt terrible but wasnt great either.. And the service was horrendous.. never really saw our server to take our order.. i did like the sangria though.. baba reeba and emilos are much better.. i am not even inclined to write more of this review since i just wasnt into it..

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/12/2007

    Best tapas in Chicago and the value is tremendous.  I went here recently with 3 friends and after food & drinks, the bill was just $40.  You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but I recommend the patatas bravas and queso de cabra.  Oh, and a pitcher of red sangria.

    The atmosphere is fun and festive, but if you sit downstairs it's a bit calmer and cozier.  On the weekends, it gets crowded, so make reservations.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/30/2006

    I've lived in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco and Cafe Iberico is still HANDS DOWN my favorite tapas restaurant in the U.S.

    Whenever I'm back in Chicago, this is the first place I try to get back to for dinner. There is something about their use of oil, salt, and pepper (because, seriously, that's all there is to it!) and fresh ingredients at a reasonable price that makes this place mmmm, mmmmm good!

    The sangria helps, too!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/25/2010

    Really good Sangria, great atmosphere, some tapas are really good, some average.

    Very popular place, so good idea to make reservations or include an hour of wait in your plan.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/12/2007

    Killah tapas joint. I came here all by my lonesome, but I sure didn't feel that way. The staff is friendly and welcoming, the food was delicious, and the drinks are nice and stiff. Try the crab cakes and the chicken salad followed by some sangria. Recipe for success. I left with a full belly and a full wallet.
    Prices are great for the quality of food and variety. Skip the profiteroles though. Dessert is not their strong suit.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/8/2009

    First time here for me was the other night.  Didn't even know I was going, just met up with a group of friends and that's where they were headed.  Turned out to be a great surprise.  I'm not even sure what all was on the table because when they ordered I was upstairs using the bathroom and making a phone call.  I remember the goat cheese toast, the octopus, some sweet peppers, and the beef tenderloin.  I know there was lots more but can't recall (ahhh the booze).  All I know was everything was awesome and I'd definately go back.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/31/2012

    best sangria i've ever had!  food is delicious. get ready to pig out!  atmosphere is funky cool. plenty of cold and hot tapas to choose from. go there and let your hair down. party! party! party!

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/22/2009 Updated review

    Came back, and honestly couldn't remember if I've been here or not. The lighting was kinda crap (very dim, took about an hour for me to adjust), and the decor was butt-ugly. Yellow walls, with tacky tiled pictures of Spanish women washing clothes --- I could find something better at the Salvation Army. Also, a coworker pointed out that the coat-rack seemed suited for little people --- as it was really really odd.

    Food was OK, but I've had better....and the service? Yep, still kinda lousy (missed our order for a paella).
    Oh, and the sangria pretty much sucks.

    Fine if I'm going with a group, but I wouldn't come back here on my own.

    3.0 star rating
    6/19/2008 Previous review
    Came here for an enjoyable lunch. Food was really good --- I can't even tell you what we ordered,… Read more
  • 5.0 star rating
    2/16/2009

    Easily the best and most Spanish tapas restaurant in Chicago. I've been here many many times, and it never fails! Try the patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) and the pulpo (grilled octopus). These dishes never fail and they are DELICIOUS! The atmosphere here is great, it's kinda' loud in a very Spanish kind of way.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/15/2010

    I've been here too many times to count on my hands.  I love the flavors of Cafe Iberico.  When ever I have guests come to town, this place is a must.  The tapas style of food allows you to order lots of little plates and sample a little bit of everything.  I can't say I've ever had anything bad here.  Ordering from the weekly specials is usually bittersweet for me, finding a really great dish and unsure of when I'll see it again.  A few of my favorites are the jamon iberico which is a cured ham/manchego cheese plate with olives and thin slices of bread with a refreshing and flavorful tomato/bruchetta-esk topping.  Queso de cabra is another must get when I go, mainly because I love goat cheese.  And last and certianly not least, my favorite dish here of ALL time is the vieiras a la plancha, which is sea scallops on a bed of saffron rice, with a creamy sauce and dressed up with sliced almonds.  This dish is so good, I request that I have my own to eat my self....this type of gluttony tates so good.  

    The place can get extremely crowded during the evening, especially on the weekends.  Before they added the upstairs I remember having to wait 2-3 hours on a Friday/Saturday night.  However, since the upstairs being open, I have noticed some of the dishes are a little skimpy on the goods and the prices went up a touch.  The scallops in the vierias a la plancha seemed to have gotten (thinner) cut in half to go further, and the jamon iberico since being prepared ahead of time to cater to the demand isn't as fresh as it used to be.  Regardless, the food is still tastey and fairly priced to boot.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/25/2006
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    Yes, Virginia, you can eat inexpensively in downtown Chicago. You don't even have to settle for a hotdog, Italian beef, or a quarter pounder from the Rock 'N Roll McDonald's. You can get completely stuffed on Spanish tapas and soused on sangria for about $20.

    The good thing about tapas, and the reason for the cuisine's popularity, is the ability to try several different dishes. One of the original restaurants of this type, Cafe Iberico's been serving tapas since before tapas was cool. Their dishes range from the expected Marinated Spanish Olives (aceitunas alinadas) to the very-American-seeming Chicken and Ham Puffs. Yes, these are deep-fried rolls of chicken and ham served with a white cream sauce. Since I'm from Indiana I naturally love 'em.

    They also serve grilled octopus, which does not taste like chicken and is actually one of my favorites. I also love love love the Queso de Cabra (baked goat cheese in a tomato basil sauce), the grilled mushrooms, the smoked salmon, and the spicy potatoes. The grilled shrimp always sounds really good, but the couple of times I've had it it's been overcooked. There are so many items to choose from it doesn't really bother me, so instead I'll get the chicken brochette with carmelized onions and rice. There are standard menu items, but they also feature weekly specials to mix it up a bit.

    For those who don't like to share their food, Cafe Iberico has several salads and entrees to choose from, including Paella. Desserts feature flan, of course, and last time I went there with a birthday group they served the Platano Al Caramelo - sauteed banana with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. WOW!

    Cafe Iberico is not the place to go for a romantic date. For one reason, they don't take reservations on Friday and Saturday at all, and the rest of the week only for parties of 6 or more. Another reason is it's a casual atmosphere and it can get pretty loud. That being said, it's a great restuarant for a get-together with friends over a pitcher of really good sangria.

    I think that's why I like the place so much. The surroundings are comfortable and amiable and I'm sharing good food and drinks with good friends. If I don't like something they've picked there are several other dishes in front of me to choose from. The service is a little slow, but since I can walk out of there full and happy for less than a cover charge in a River North hotspot, who am I to complain?

    Cafe Iberico
    739 N LaSalle
    (312)573-1510
    cafe-iberico.com
    Mon - Thur 11am to 11:30pm
    Fri 11am to 1:30am
    Sat Noon to 1:30am
    Sun Noon to 11pm

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/18/2010

    The food is so-so but pretty cheap compared to other tapas places. There's one chicken dish that I like but I don't remember the name of the dish, possibly pincho de pollo?. Some dishes were so bland and overwhelmingly oily. Sangria is not that good either.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/12/2011

    We had a huge group here a few weeks ago for my besties birthday.  Usually they won't seat you until your entire party gets there but they were nice enough to get our tables together and seat us early.  The food was terrific and the sangria was delish and refreshing.  The service was "Meh".  Although they seated us early, when we got up to our table we waited FOREVER for water and drinks.  When they finally got to us to take our drink orders, we were simple and just ordered a bunch of pitchers of sangria.  Strangely, the waitress tried down selling us - we ordered 4 pitches to start with and she said we should only get 2. Um, ok. We like our drinks so we stuck to the 4 pitchers and low and behold ordered even more as the night went on.  After the rest of our party got there, they got thru their hiccups and the rest of the night went smoothly.  The food was delish and came out quickly.  Out of the many many things that we tried, a few that I'll make sure to get again: Queso De Cabra, patatas bravas, the potato salad, and the grilled shrimp and octopus (both cooked well, not rubbery).   I was stuffed by the end of the meal.  And to make up for the hiccups at the beginning of the night, the waitress brought the birthday girl a tasty desert (in the shape of a falic symbol hehe).  Overall, I'll definitely be back for more.  The space is a bit tight and crowded. We had a long table and it was hard to manuver in and out.  But the food was great and the price even better!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/21/2009

    I've only been here a couple of times, but have enjoyed the tapas, sangria, and lively crowd.  There can be some waiting on a Fri or Sat night (expected), but once you're settled, the food keeps coming, and the sangria keeps pouring!  Bonus:  If it's your birthday, you get a fun, phallic dessert!  Be prepared to blush!  :-)

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/14/2009

    Where else can you go near downtown Chicago with a bunch of friends to get a pitcher of sangria and dinner in a lively atmosphere with good people-watching, and walk out only about $10 poorer? The food may not be quite the quality of Cafe Babareeba (if only by a very slight margin), but the atmosphere, location, and price more than make up for the difference, making Cafe Iberico THE tapas place to go to in the city. When my friends and I are being our usual cheapskate selves and we want to ensure a fun meal out, we inevitably end up going to Cafe Iberico.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/12/2009

    Tapas, what a great idea when catching up with friends. Goat cheese was good, definitely try the sausage or baked chicken.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/5/2009

    This was my first tapas experience about a year and a half ago... great tapas, but not the best restaurant set up. I felt like the bus boys brushed our shoulders everytime they had to pass because there wasn't enough space. The sangria wasn't that great cause it tasted like it had been sitting out for hours, but then again, it still got my sister and me pretty drunk, so I guess it served it's purpose.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/13/2009
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    Always like Cafe Iberico, good selection of tapas, reasonable price, good red sangria, good dessert, delicious food, couple things that I can complain is the restaurant always too loud, not enough room from table to table, service is ok, but still can be better, always need to wait in the line for more than an hour, but for the good quality of the food,well, I guess I still can bear with it.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/25/2008

    Went here a while ago with a group of friends.  Man it was so packed.  The food was good as was the Sangria...but what was super annoying...one female restroom.  It was total and utter madness.  I waited in line to pee for like 20 minutes.  When I got back to my table, everyone was giving me the "where have you been" eye.  I won't go back for this reason.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/22/2006

    Slight bias.  I live 3 blocks away, so I have a convenience bias.  The food is great, especially for the price ($20).  I enjoy the hot tapas, including salmon and potatoes.  I may wait 30 min for the paella but I find the seafood paella absolutely satisfying.  Apparently, people thoroughly enjoy the sangria.  I don't know, I haven't really tried it.  

    Being accustomed to NYC, I don't enjoy smoke when eating.  This isn't overwhelming but a consideration if sitting next to the bar.  The place is loud.  Just completely and overwhelmingly loud.  Be prepared for noise and difficulty talking to your dinner companion.  The decor is price appropriate.  I would recommend going with friends, not a date.

  • 2.0 star rating
    12/19/2008

    It was cold outside and not too busy when we went. The steak and chicken tapas were all great, but the seafood was not properly cooked and not fresh. The mushrooms are a must. The octopus was burnt/raw and the mussels tasted "ripe". We could have gotten sick. The service was like watching chickens running around. Definately not relaxing. I may go back, but not for the sea food.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/10/2006
    1 check-in ROTD 8/27/2006
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    This is one of my favorite places in the city to eat.  Sure, the wait on the weekend might be an hour or more, but that's time that could be spent having a sangria or three or ten at the bar.  If you don't want a wait, the place is pretty empty during the week at lunchtime.

    The food is delicious.  There is a wide variety of food, as well as hot and cold dishes.  I don't think I've had anything there that I haven't liked.  My favorites are the croquetas de pollo (Chicken and Ham puffs - I can eat a whole plate on my own) and the pulpos a la plancha (grilled octopus).  Make sure you have at least 4 people in your party so you can get several dishes to share.  The prices are great - you can get full and have some sangrias for less that $20.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/18/2006

    Well, folks let's look back 5 years ago to an age when amazing restaurants were undiscovered by the usurping throngs of the "social elite" -- in those days Cafe Iberico was the only place to go for the tenuous combo of bourbon, Tapas and sangria.

    In those days, the atmosphere was quaint, the food was top-notch, and the people were chill. But those days are long gone. Now if you want to get some Tapas on a weekend night, you're most likely going to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find anything at all.

    Cafe Iberico has expanded beyond its own capacity at this point in time. They have seating that is for a lack of any better description "jammed tighter than dark matter inside a quark." Nowadays, the throngs that meet you with their din of drunken shrieking and elitist nose turns are nigh impossible to handle.

    The food over the past 5 years has taken a sharp decline as well. For instance over last winter ('05-'06) I took a date there to drink bourbon and talk about whatever rolled off my riled mind. We sat down and took off our coats and were met with sub-arctic temperatures. I mean a polar bear would have had difficulty surviving in that joint. For some reason they were running the air conditioning on a Thursday night, in the dead of Chicago's winter. When our food arrived the dishes that were supposed to be piping hot were cold and the dishes that were supposed to be cold were sporting a fine layer of miniscule ice crystals (okay the ice crystals may be a bit eccentric). When I asked the wait staff and hostess to please turn down the AC, I was met with... "I'll check with the manager." and a look like, "Good luck chump."

    Anyway, the moral of the story is that this used to be a GREAT place to go and have amazing tapas... but no longer is it worthwhile... unless you go on Tuesday night toward the end of Spring. I was going to give them 5 stars but then I remembered how badly they have dropped the ball... but instead of giving them the 2 stars they now deserve... they pour some pretty fine bourbons so, I'll fudge a little and give them 3 stars. See... I can be fair sometimes!

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/22/2008
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    i love Cafe Iberico.  The jamon, the cheese, the tortilla, and especially those freaking addictive croquettes.  People might complain about the wait at the restaurant, so I would suggest that they do what my husband did- pick some up to take home.  We have tons of food, and the leftovers are just as good as the first day.  Inexpensive, especially when you can eat your tapas, in the comfort of your own home, with your own bottle of wine- I couldn't be happier.  Delicious!

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/19/2007

    Love love love Cafe Iberico.  In my opinion, this is the BEST place to go for tapas in the city.  My best friend studied in Barcelona for a year and people in Spain had actually heard of this restaurant.  Weird, huh?

    The interior isn't super fancy, but it doesn't need to win you over with its beautiful insides because of the faboo food.  You've gotta try the patatas bravas, queso de cabra al horno, and the croquettas.  I also love the gambas, the pincho de solomillo and the marinated mushrooms.  Nothing here is fancy, just great food, good (not great) sangria, and good people.  

    The only negative about this place is that on the weekends it is impossible to get in and they don't take reservations.  Also, the waiters seem to be rather jerky at times.  Both of these things i'm willing to overlook because i love the food so much.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/1/2010

    I love this place, the food is exceptional and the service is great. The daily specials are enough for me to go back everyday. Love their soups and salads.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/1/2007

    Not sure why but I think this is the best tapas in the city.  Good sized portions, fantastic quality and decent prices.  

    Once we had a group of over 20 girls eat dinner here which is usually a nightmare.  Somehow they were able to accomodate all of us and it was fantastic!

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/3/2009

    One word.  Go.

    Good food, good service, good value/prices, good sangria!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/2/2006

    So good, but so hard to get into.  I loved this place the one time I went there, but I have never had the patience to wait out the lines since.  I am not sure if you can make reservations, but if you can...do.  

    We had a wide assortment of dishes which were all wonderful and well prepared.  They seemed to use fresh ingredients, and had a large and diverse menu.  The sangria is great.  

    I have been to many tapas restaurants in the city since moving here a year ago, but I definitely think this is my favorite...if only I could get a table!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/20/2010

    The croquetas do pollo will give you a mouth orgasm, they are so effen good when they hit your lips.  The sauce they serve with it is amazing.  Everything I've ever had here has been delicious.

    The sangria is outta control.

    The tapas come out quickly; you won't sit there waiting and waiting for your food.

    It can be too loud in there to have a conversation sometimes, though, as with many Chicago restaurants.  The wait for a table to most other good (and known) restuarants, too.  It's awesome if you go Sunday-Thursday, though- a pretty short wait.  

    The service is pretty good, and the crowd makes for some interesting people watching.  

    Ok, I can't stop thinking about the croquetas de pollo...   :)

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 3.0 star rating
    7/30/2009 Updated review

    Went back here recently for a friends birthday dinner, and while I can't say that I LOVE it, I can say that it was a far more pleasant experience.  The food is still not as good as other Tapas restaurants, but it was way better this time.  And the Sangria was also delicious!

    2.0 star rating
    6/19/2008 Previous review
    This was the first tapas restaurant I went to in the city and it left me not wanting tapas ever… Read more
  • 5.0 star rating
    2/22/2007

    Pound for pound the best restaurant in Chicago. High quality food that tastes exactly the same each time you go-impeccable consistency. Once you get seated, great service. Tasty, boozy drinks. Great value. The wait is a pain, and this is not the place to take someone who doesn't want to yell across the table.
    See the other reviews. No idea why they don't open 6 more of these.

  • 1.0 star rating
    5/10/2010

    In the 10 or so times I've been to Cafe Iberico I've had a great to good tapas experience, but as of last night I'm not sure what happened.  Everything...I mean EVERYTHING tasted like it had come from the same greasy pan.  Fish...greasy pan, chicken...greasy pan, beef....greasy pan.  I mean, if you dig greasy pan then Cafe Iberico has some tapas for you.  My out of town guest was not impressed, and I was pretty embarrassed for bragging this place up.  Maybe it was just an off night, but somebody needs to wash some cookware back there.

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/11/2008

    I know there has to be a great tapas place in Chicago but I have yet to find it. This place was extremely crowded on a weekend night but not in a good way because there's no room to stand and comfortably wait. The white sangria was average at best and the tapas were really disappointing. I wish there had been more selection and that it was more authentic.

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/17/2009

    Great tapas and drinks. Cafe Iberico was a place I always passed by during the days when I had to walk over to the Chicago-Brown line, but never went in. When I finally did before I moved, I was pleasantly surprised. Great for groups.

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/31/2007

    I honestly don't remember this place too well, so that bodes poorly for it.

    The tapas were fairly average (think Cafe Tu Tu Tango) and the prices were above average (go figure).

    If you're in the neighborhood, go for it, but don't make a special trip!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/20/2009

    WHERE DO I BEGIN!! The Scallops are Heaven!! The Goat Cheese with sauce OHHH MYYY GOD!!! there aren't any bad things about this other than the parking can get to be a bit much. I go during Early Lunch and am able to park at the meter and get served quickly.. GREAT GREAT Food! Worth putting on lbs for !

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/14/2007

    This is an ol' standby if  you would like to enjoy some tapas.  Although I am partial to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, I do enjoy making it to Iberico every once in a while.  I ate here with my father and  a group of 20 out of towners above the age of 50.  Most of them do not eat any kind of "ethnic" food other than Italian :)  So it was definitely a fun experience.

    "What is that?" - Bob
    "Potatoes." - Me
    "How do you know?" - Bob
    "Because it looks like a potato." - Me

    Obviously Bob only eats Italian!  I did have a great night, though the service was  little slow and not always accommodating to our large group.  The food was decent, but again, I think I like Ba Ba Reeba better!

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/5/2008

    I know some of my friends won't agree but... I'm not feeling this place as much as baba Reeba. service has been iffy last few times I went. Like, we were getting other peoples tapas and they were getting ours.  The spicy potatoes are OK and the goat cheese is good....  best part is the sangria because boy is it strong!!! the basement seating is less loud but sometimes it smells like, well a basement..

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/27/2006

    I love this place and have been going there for years! (and I live in the suburbs!)
    Tapas are great!

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/4/2009

    475 reviews... you know it is good...  When I am taking out of town guest for tours around the loop area, I pick Cafe Iberico for a midday  tapas break.  It is are great way to avoid all the crazy corporate things they have at home.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/19/2006

    Ok, I've been to quite a few tapas restaurant.  The one has to be my favorite.  I'm judging this from overall taste of food.  From appetizers to tapas and to desserts they do it right.  The sangria is great, and it's great for a group setting.  I'm in love with the carmalized banana dessert and the ice cream filled crepe topped with strawberries.  I just love the way the food tastes here!  I've taken one of my girlfriends out here, and she gives me the eye like I know what she's talking about when she tells me she's going there the next time.  I can't help but be insanely envious!

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/14/2010

    Local friends said this was the place for a group to go and they were RIGHT!  Great margaritas, fabulous tapas, and the price is so low for what you get.  The spicy potatoes, salmon, beef tips are all excellent but my favorite was the goat cheese-such a great flavor-cheesy heaven!  This is a big place that can accomodate groups or couples.  The noise level can be high, but try to get in the smaller room if noise bothers you.  Go ahead and order that pitcher of sangria because it tastes great and makes you feel even better :)  I will definitely go back to this place when in Chicago-and remember to take friends!

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/26/2009

    The place was recommended so we tried it out. The grilled shrimp and also the mushrooms were good but the paella was incredible.  The sangria was excellent and it was obvious they marinade the fruit.  The staff was helpful and attentive.  You can't go wrong with this choice.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/25/2009

    This place is popular and there's a reason: good food and drinks at great prices.  Their versions of the standards are yummy: from the patatas bravas to queso de cabra.  A standout is the grilled octopus w/ fries.  And then the desserts.   MMM!  Fried flan, bananas w/ caramel...  Good standby, even with the wait.  But, it's super noisy and - last Friday at least - was filled with bachelorette parties.  Perhaps not a great 1st date place!

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/29/2009

    I was here for one of my birthday dinners.  It was just ok.  It is one of the better tapas places in the city that I've been to, but  I have not been blown away.   The paella(combo) was a bit salty and the tapas were just so so.   The sangria was strong and good and was the highlight of the meal.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/20/2006
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    This places deserves more than 4 stars! I think this is the best place to go for tapas. Their sangria and Long Island are so good! Staff members are very friendly and patient, and I thought the service was good and relatively fast as well. Cheaper than many other tapas places in Chicago too!
    ----------------
    I recently found myself in this restaurant more than a couple of times a month. I introduced this restaurants to a few of my friends, and they keep going back! The more I dine here, the more I fall in love with this place. And this place is a bargain for the amount /quality of food you get. You get a half pitcher sangria for 6.xx, and two people get enough to drink for dinner unless you plan on getting drunk on sangria.
    My favorite dishes include:
    Pincho de Solomillo, Jamon Iberico, Chorizos, Mejillones, Plato Combinado, and any of their Paellas.

    They also have weekly specials. That place does get extremely crowded, and they DO NOT take reservations on weekends. Unless you go there in the early evening on weekdays, you will have to wait. Once you get a table though, food comes out really quickly. Good service overall. Love the energy in that place. You really gotta try this place.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/16/2009

    I love this place.  I really do.  In fact, I love it so much that I always want to take out-of-towners here for food and drinks...which is often a bad idea, unfortunately.  The thing is, Iberico has great food, fast service, and quite reasonably priced drinks, but it is LOUD.  I didn't realize how loud, in fact, until I took my parents last week.  They've traveled and lived in Europe, so they're quite accustomed to sitting close to others, lots of bustle, crowded restaurants, etc.  However, it was borderline impossible to hear everyone at our table of four.  Sad!  I still love the place, yes, but my days of bringing out-of-town guests are sadly over.

  • 3.0 star rating
    12/2/2009

    I really enjoy tapas so I was very excited to check out Café Iberico.  I've been to Babareeba a few times and Barcelona, Spain so I have a pretty good idea as to what I like.  First of all, the dining room is WAY too loud.  There's no need for tvs everywhere and blaring music.  I felt like I was in a sports bar.  Also, the menus are a little ridiculous.  Pictures seem so ridiculous when the menu is printed in English.  We ordered several items off the menu:  the house salad (good but not anything special), the red potatoes with garlic mayo sauce (alright but definitely better at Babareeba), the baked goat cheese (probably the best dish, but not amazing), chicken kebab (so so), and flan for dessert (again, it was fine but not great).  As it was a work dinner, I didn't actually pay for it.  I'm glad I tried it, but I wouldn't want to actually pay for it myself.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/19/2009

    Probably my favorite Tapas in the city. It's a lot more authentic then Ba Ba Reeba. I love the white sangria and the goat cheese and tomato dish. It's always a great place to bring friends for a fun and lively time.  You cannot make reservations for under 6 persons. Get ready to wait on the weekends. It is quite reasonable when it comes to the small plates.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/27/2006

    With all the new tapas joints opening throughout the city, Cafe Iberico still is number one in my book.

    I've been here plenty of times with the most recent being this past Friday.  I arrived around 8:30 and quite honestly, I was expecting a long wait, but was seated within about fifteen minutes.  I guess it was my lucky night because we got a table by the window (more room and you aren't literally a foot away from the next table).

    Service was decent, we were greeted shortly after being seated and checked on every fifteen minutes or so.

    Food arrived fairly quickly.  I figure on a busy night, they probably make a few in advance and just send them out upon being ordered.  My fave tapas would have to be the scallops with saffron rice and the goat cheese.  The goat cheese isn't anything out of this world, but for some reason, I have to order it every time I go.  I think the only thing that could improve the menu would be if they offered flavored sangrias =)

    The restaurant itself is humongous, therefore it's fairly loud.  Also, the main room has a tv on at all times, along with latin music blaring through the sound system.  This is definitely not the place to go for a quiet evening, but the place to be if you're looking for a lively environment.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/15/2006

    The tapas here was really good.  Got to numerous plates, as I was with a huge group.  I don't remember what I tried for the most part (damn those flowing pitchers of sangria!), but our group ordered a plethora of plates.  Both hot and cold tapas were really good, and the sangria was excellent.

    The atmosphere isn't great, as it would be nice if they remodeled and re-configured the seating downstairs.  But Overall, a really good tapas place, second in Chicago only to Cafe BaBaReeba.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/31/2006
    3 check-ins
    Listed in Mucho gusto

    Great Tapas restaurant.  LOVE the garlic potato salad.  The quail did me wrong though everything else was wonderful.  I've been here several times with big lunch groups from work.

    2/5/07 EDIT: Went for lunch this weekend, they've remodeled beautifully, great tables!  We had the shrimp w/garlic and oil, mushroom soup was to die for!  more mushrooms, beef & fries, tuna caneloni...mmmm LOVE IBERICO!!! LOVE LOVE IT!

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/8/2007
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    Great Tapas Restaurant. We went on a Friday night and it was really packed. So packed that it was hard to even walk in the restaurant. They have a full service bar so many people were at the bar chatting and having drinks. I had sangria and I thought it was ok. It wasn't strong at all. My friend made better homemade sangria.

    The food was enjoyable. I was full after sharing 3 tapas with my boyfriend. We ordered the salad to start. It was decent. Not bad. Then we had marinated mushrooms. I am biased because I absolutely love mushrooms, so I thought they were so good. We also had marinated shrimps which were also delicious. By this time we were so full but had already placed an order for the paella. So delicious. Just the right amount of flavor and tenderness. I thought the chicken was a little weird, so I picked it out.

    Overall, I think its a great tapas bar and great for groups. Very happening.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/19/2010

    Plus: delicious sangria (and cheap!), food was pretty good (i.e. Spanish tortilla, goat cheese) and a lively atmosphere.

    Just know that you are going to a crazy crowded downtown location, will wait a long time - and then you won't be stressed about it. NOT the place for a quiet meal, but really fun with a big group.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/26/2011

    Really good food. But really crowded and LOUD.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/24/2009

    Cafe iberico is a great tapas place. The sangria is my favorite! And cheap! The queso de cabre is also one of my favorite choices. This place is really loud during busy times, so don't expect to have an intimate conversation with someone because you'll have to shout.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/28/2009

    The food was fantastic specally the sangria; the best sangria we ever had.  However, the place was extremily crowed it.  It was a hassle to move because the chairs are so packed together.  Our waitress was not very attemptive which is probably due to the fact that it was packed.  The place has decent food, great prices, I will defenitely return.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/19/2008

    The most authentic tapas I've found in Chicago.  It seems like they have raised their prices recently, but they are still cheaper and better than anyone else.

  • 3.0 star rating
    6/17/2009

    Cafe Iberico is my favorite tapas restaurant in the city. The food, the sangria, the atmosphere--all top notch. BUT, never plan an event here unless it's a sit-down dinner. They do not cater for people standing around, networking, or filtering in and out. They said they wouldn't work with us on negotiating any of their group packages and then they mentioned that they wouldn't "seat" anyone until the whole party arrived. When I explained that this would be a "come and go" networking event with about 60 people, they said they couldn't accommodate. So go for a fun dinner after work or on the weekends, but avoid for events!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/19/2011
    1 check-in

    This is one of the places I always visit when I'm in Chicago. It had been a few years since my last visit and they have changed some things. There is now an actual tapas bar in the front of the restaurant where patrons can select the number of their item and have it delivered to the table. Meanwhile you still get a menu and can order items off the menu as well. I went with a group of four and two went to the front to order while I ordered items off the menu. Needless to say we got a few too many items. That would be a bad thing if everything was not out of this world delicious. Hands down the best items we ordered were the pulpo a la plancha (grilled octopus), fried mussels served on a half shell, the tortilla espanola and the garlic potatoes. We ordered too many items to list here but there was not a dud with any of them. Washed it all down with pitchers of white and red sangria. Total came to $40 per person with generous tip. Highly recommend and definitely will be back next time I'm in Chicago.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/31/2006

    They put up with my friends asking them to create a sculpture of male genitalia consisting of a banana, some well-placed scoops of ice cream, & dollop of whipped cream for my birthday last year, much to my chagrin.

    So they automatically win in my book.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/1/2006

    Let me preface by stating that I lived in Madrid, Spain for 4 months.

    I loved this place.  I was first brought here by my Spanish friends (originally from a costal town near Barcelona) when they visited me here in Chicago.  I was skeptical, but I figure they should know what they are talking about when it comes to Spanish cuisine.

    There was a big of a wait for a table, but my friends just ordered a jar of sangria roja at the bar.  The sangria was okay, by my standards; it tasted a little diluted.

    I just let my friends order since I was up for anything.  We tried a variety of tapas and one of our entrees was paella with chicken.  We asked for the pulpo a gallego (steamed, not grilled/sauteed, octopus), and it was so well prepared.  It truly brought back memories of Galicia, Spain when I had steamed octopus for the first time.

    The paella was very good as well, with the flavorful/moist/juicy rice mixed with the chorizo and chicken.  The paella was not the best that I have had in the US, however it is certainly the best that I have had in Chicago.

    Price is very reasonable.  Food is good and plentiful.  Atmosphere is lively.  Street parking may be found (although difficult) along LaSalle.

    Cafe' Ibe'rico is a great place to enjoy with a large group of friends, and I would definately return.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/26/2009

    I go here with the family every so often.  Its a good time and good crowd.  Everyone tells me that they have to wait like 20 mins to get a seat but I never had to wait.  I just walked up and told her party of 5 and we got a seat right away.  Sangrias are the best here and the food is really good.  Its nothing over the top but its been a good time everytime I went.  I recommend it.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/24/2010

    I must say, Cafe Iberico is a great place to mingo with friends, drink sangria and share some tasty tapas. Be prepared to talk a bit louder than usual, for everyone is conversating, laughing, greeting one another and so on.  It feels like a summer family gathering.
      As for the food, I have to give the Croquetas de pollo with there Ali-Oli sauce, a five star!  I have tasted the croquetas de pollo in other places but there is just no competition.  The Raxo Adobado is also a recommended dish. I can name a few more but I will be here typing for a while.  As for the dessert, try the flan de caramelo, platano al caramelo y ice cream and filloa de helado y crema. I hope you will take some friends or just good company and enjoy the sangria and tapas here. Not to mention...It's very affordable!

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/29/2008

    I love this place. The food never fails to amaze. Grilled octopus and the cold potato salad are must haves...Bring your drinking stomach as you will likely down a pitcher or two of sangria with friends while you wait the hour or two it takes to get a table.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/11/2011

    Food is good.... great value... cheap and tasty sangria pitchers.... enjoyed the scallops. Interior/ atmosphere is just ok.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/17/2009

    The food was great but as others have noted the atmosphere is pretty hectic.  Not a place to go to have a nice quiet dinner.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/14/2009

    Yum yummy yum-yum.  Everything was delicious, and arrived at our table quickly and frequently.  Standouts include a mixed seafood salad, grilled calamari, garlicy mushrooms, paella, lamb, and the cheese/toast/tomato sauce dealie.  The service was efficient if not terribly friendly - they kept the table cleared and the pitchers of sangria coming.  My only disappointment was the sangria, which was kinda forgettable.

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/2/2009

    Well I do enjoy their tapas and sangria, my recent experience out with a group a girlfriends has soured me on Iberico. Our server was INCREDIBLY rude and inattentive to our table, a few times we even had to flag down another server to refresh our drinks. Meanwhile our server was standing at the bar chatting with another employee with his back to us! Also, we were seated in their downstairs dining room and throughout the whole meal, we had fruit flies flying around our heads and plates.... When something like that happens, to me, it implies something is going wrong with their cleanliness, food preparation and/or storage. Never a good sign!!! So, despite their decent pricing,  I'm afraid I probably will not choose Cafe Iberico for a get together again.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 3.0 star rating
    6/20/2009

    Went here for lunch and the place was pretty empty. Cafeteria-like atmosphere. Food was okay.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/26/2010

    Quite possibly my favourite restaurant in Chicago! I always order Canelon de Atun and a pitcher of Red Sangria.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/22/2006

    For tapas, I prefer La Tasca. For environment, Cafe Iberico is good and fine.

    Pitchers of sangria are slightly watered-down; imported Spanish meats and seafoods don't taste fresh, though the check might make you sweat.

    Saving grace: music. Salud.

  • 3.0 star rating
    10/24/2010

    Great place for groups and the prices are reasonable.

  • 1.0 star rating
    11/13/2009

    If I could go lower than 1 stars I would. It is incomprehensible that people give this place more than one star. I have been here two times thinking 500 reviews can't be wrong. Each tapas was worse than the previous. Even the baked goat cheese was had no flavor. I mean, how do you mess up goat cheese? The service was fine, the sangria was mediocre, and the food is disgusting.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/9/2010

    Been here many, many times. Great food, great atmosphere, and not too pricey.

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/5/2009

    If you like sangria, welcome to your home.  They have the best sangria!  I have yet to try a dish here that I don't like.  The food is tasty, the service is quick and the staff is friendly.  This is a great place to go in a large group and split numerous things so you don't have to pick just one things, but can sample many of their options.  Some of the dishes are offered only selectively, but they are worth it.  If you are in when they have crab stuffed mushrooms, do yourself a favor and enjoy!  Their paella is also rather yummy.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/7/2010

    My other favorite Chicago place for tapas....the grilled octupus is excellent!  Also the rice pudding for dessert.  They are also consistent and there are always tables available and if not a short wait.  They also do a good job of switching up the specials, so if you are a regular you can try something new, when ever you go!

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/12/2009

    I just didn't think this place was that great.  The service was horrible.  It took forever for the waiter to take our order.  After finally getting our order, we had to take our empty plates and put them on the table next to us to make more room at the table.  The food was okay, nothing to write home about.  It took FOREVER for the waiter to bring our check.  The food is pretty reasonable and the sangria is good, but do yourself a favor and go to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba instead.  The food is just as good if not better and I'll guarantee the service is better than what I experienced last night.

  • 1.0 star rating
    8/31/2009

    While the service was fine, I left very confused about what I had just experienced.  Every time someone wants to go for tapas, Cafe Iberico is always mentioned.  I finally went for it and left wondering how this place keeps getting such good reviews.  Every tapas I tasted was lacking flavor, except for olive oil.  I left the meal still hungry, not because the portions were too small, but I didn't find one tapas that was worth diving into.

  • 1.0 star rating
    8/29/2009

    My boyfriend and I went to Iberico last night and there was an hour long wait ... expected.  The hostess then urged us to try their new restaurant upstairs.  She assured us it was the same chef, same menu, it was just one floor up.  Why not right?  MISTAKE!

    The place looked like a high school cafeteria and the florescent lighting was unforgiving.  Needless to say, we left in 30 seconds.  

    If you go to Iberico, dont get cajoled into trying their 'new' restaurant, unless you want to relive high school.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/13/2006

    The idea of Tapas is a great one...go out to a bar with some friends, share a few drinks, and everyone has a few small plates of food, not enough to be filling in and of themselves, but together a delicious display to delight the palate.

    Cafe Iberico definetly has the corazon of any of its contemporaries in Spain. From the exterior, Iberico seems like just another sidewalk cafeteria, and has little more than a small neon sign in the window to recommend it. This is probably because all the recommendations are coming from those eat here

    The interior is a small bar and 2 large dining rooms, one upstairs, and one belowstairs. The upstairs one is nicely decorated enough that you could eat here for a night out on the town, but if you only wore blue jeans and a t-shirt, you would fit in perfectly as well.

    While the decorations may come off a little on the tacky side, Iberico more than makes up for it with everything else...

    They have the cheapest sangria in the city...at $13 bucks a pitcher, It would be a crime to not try the sangria roja, which is fruity enough that non-wine drinkers can still enjoy it, but strong enough that a couple pitchers may still have you and your friends dancing on the tables singing "La Bamba"

    Iberico has probably the best variety of hot and cold tapas in the city, although Ba ba reeba, Sangria, and others may occasionally beat them in price. My group and I ended up sampling the stuffed eggplant rolls with goat cheese, the spicy potatoes, the croquettes, bizcochos, and garlic shrimp. Not one dish disappointed.

    The portions are small, so by yourself you may need 2 or 3 plates, but at about 5-8 dollars per item, even a hungry man won't break the bank

    The presentation is excellent with each plate artfully arranged and nary an unused space to be seen, even when the dish is larger than the meal on it. The eggplant was soft and cooked to perfection, the goat cheese inside warm and just beginning to melt. The croquettes were crispy and contrasted nicely with the tang and coolness of the mayonaisse, and the garlic shrimp had a flavor that belied their size.

    The wait staff was helpful and friendly, and brought our late guests full glasses of sangria at no charge, even though the pitcher was empty when they arrived. The waitress also made a number of excellent sugesstions for what to order, based off of what she eats in her down time, always a good sign for me.

    We arrived about a quarter to 5 to grab a bite to eat before seeing spamalot, and the restaurant was empty. By the time we left at 6:30, Iberico was packed, and there was a line out the door, so be sure to make reservations if you are going to be eating later in the evening.

    On the whole, Sangria is still my favorite Tapas Bar, but Iberico wins for best all around...pricing, selection, location and wait staff are all just a bit better.

    Iberico also offers valet parking, but check for street meters about one block west of La Salle!

    Price Range: $5-10 per tapa
    Good For: groups, birthdays, night's on the town (for dates go to Sangria)

    Recommended: Eggplant stuffed with goat cheese if available, any dish with goat cheese if not

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/18/2011

    The tapas here are pretty good, but the NOISE level and the rude service took away from the experience.  I had a friend visiting from out of town and I gave him the option to pick from a few tapas restaurants.  We decided to venture downtown and go to Iberico.  Be forewarned, this restaurant has low ceilings, tiled floors and its quite large, therefore, the noise level even when its only half-full is nearly deafening.  My friend and I were literally screaming across the table at each other to be heard.  I'm all for lively places, but this was to the point that conversation was difficult.  Then the waiter we had clearly wanted to be anywhere but working at this restaurant.  Even when visually trying to flag him down it was impossible to get him to come over and when he did notice us, he was clearly annoyed.  The tapas and sangria were pretty good but I know several other tapas options in the city that are just as good but you can actually hear the people in your party and service is consistently friendly.  Oh yea, the wait at Iberico can get to be a bit much too during peak periods.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/8/2006

    I feel like there must have been a mistake in either their accounting or my memory, but (as the story goes) my friend and I rolled out of here for about $25 for 4 tapas and a pitcher of sangria.  

    The garlic shrimp were just like my dad used to make, the sauteed mushrooms were a little oily but quite tasty, and the bell pepper / etc on bread was a winner.  I'd recommend a pass on the white wine sangria (which we tried out of novelty), however.

    I want to give this place five stars, but I  need to go back and confirm that the price performance ratio is as amazing as I remember, and make sure that the red sangria is better than the white.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/25/2009
    Listed in All Reviews

    Really enjoyed the tapas here ,  I recommend the Seafood Salad, the Date and Ham and Sea Scallop plates  Also highly recommend the Chocolate Flan!  The Paella was a bit fishy, I am not a huge fan of paella myself, but once in a while, if made correctly, I enjoy it.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/6/2009

    I have been going to this place for over 6 years now! I absolutely love it! The queso de cabra is never a disappointment and I have recently fallen in love with the tortilla española. Yummy.. The sangria is great and the service always friendly.. You have to try the pincho de pollo.. delicious! Me encanta Cafe Iberico.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/5/2009
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    I'd rather eat at Café Iberico than Ba-ba-reba.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/19/2008

    My girlfriends took me to Cafe Iberico for my birthday and it was the perfect birthday experience.  The atmosphere was fun and colorful, the service was attentive and friendly, and the food was AMAZING.  Even my pickiest friend loved everything and couldn't stop talking about it throughout the weekend.  

    Yes, it was crowded and we had to wait for about 30 minutes to get a table.  They said that they didn't take reservations, so we tried to get there early to miss the ridiculous masses of people.

    To top off my birthday evening at Iberico, they served me a hilarious birthday "cake," which would probably embarrass your mom or grandma if they were dinning with you (for girlfriends only)!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/7/2009

    Great atmosphere, and really good food. It's a great place for family and friends.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/2/2009

    Home made cuttlefish pie for breakfast, OK an early lunch; we'll have the Spanish rose, a good breakfast wine and all the specials, Cherizo ; duck &; beans? and the potato torte and we won't eat for the rest of the day because this is special! A big pretty spot that we want to go back to soon!

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/6/2008

    The two stars go to Cafe Iberico, because of the so uncosy atomosphere there. Probably i have a too romantic picuture of Spanish Tapa restaurants in my mind, but the one that i definitely do not have, is the loud, noisy cantine like version, where 250 people in a HUGE room eat and shout at each other (normal talking is not possible) because of the loud disco music that comes from the many TV screens broadcasting some MTV like pop music. It kills just everything that could be charming about this place. Food was ok, price was also ok for it. But do not go there if you look forward to a nice, calm, romantic dining spot. This is more a "Lets get some cheap pitchers of Sangria before we go out Saturday night" kind of spot.

  • 5.0 star rating
    6/2/2008

    This is the best place to celebrate any special occassion.  I've been coming here for years and its always a great experience.  I love the food and the price is right.  Order your paella right when you sit down, so it'll catch up with the rest of the tapas you order.  My favorite tapas are the chicken skewer, beef skewer, pork chops, garlic shrimp, goat cheese, the side of fries and the paella iberca.  Make sure you leave plenty of room for the cappucino and dessert.  I usually try and just go there on special occasions because if not......my waistline will explode!

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/13/2006

    One of my favorite place to dine when I am in Chicago.  I've tried other tapas restaurants in the city, but this one is the best.  Don't forget to try their sandria.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/26/2009

    (+): The food is really good. The sangria is excellent. This place is very popular. So make sure that you make a reservation beforehand.

    (-): Iberico is very crowded and very noisy! If you are looking for a place to chat with your friends while having dinner, Iberico might not be the best place for you.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/22/2009

    Delicious, fast, loud and fun.  This place is great.  Oh yeah and very reasonably priced.  You can try and ton of stuff and pig out without breaking the bank.  This place is great for a big get together or just going out with another person.  I went with 3 others, and we each picked 2 random things from the menu and nothing disappointed. Stay for dessert!

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/11/2009

    This was the first tapas restaurant I've been to and I absolutely loved it. Everytime I visit Chicago it's a must that I eat here. The sangria is delicious. The prices are reasonable. The wait can get quite long but it is worth it, just go early. I'm still trying to find a tapas place in LA that's comparable to Iberico, but no luck yet.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/11/2008

    The food tasted decent and the price wasn't too bad. We got in on a busy Friday night in about 20 minutes. The reason Iberico only received three stars from me was the lack of accessible bathrooms.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/25/2009

    If you go there try their Sangria. The various tapas are very tasty - excellent for a small snack type meal or for a full meal. The one drawback is the wait. It takes a while to get seated and the areas around the bar are packed, so much so that some of the diners look uncomfortable at their tables - hence the minus 1 start. If you have the time to wait I'd recommend it. If you go on a weekend definitely go with a group they will seat you faster. During the week the wait is minimal.

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/9/2009

    Disclaimer: The food's actually 4 stars, but due to our horrible experience in other areas I can only give 2 stars.

    We arrive around 8 pm on a Friday night, not surprisingly there's a 30 min wait due to this place's immense popularity. The hostess at the front then tells us that there's a new restaurant "Pintxos" upstairs, which just opened and has the same owner and chef as Iberico. She assured us that there's no wait and bonus: you can order the same food as downstairs! What, no wait and the best of both worlds? I'm there. We then proceed to go upstairs and was promptly ignored by another set of servers upstairs for maybe 20 mins. When someone finally does the honor of gracing our table she firmly states that the two restaurants are separate with different menus and if I want downstairs food I must haul my ass downstairs. Not being interested in what Pintxos has to offer (an uninspiring meager collection of yakitori wanna-bes), we went downstairs to ask the first hostess what the dealio was. She tells me in an extremely impatient tone that she told me THREE times that we CANNOT order Cafe Iberico food upstairs. WTF!!! Either she's suffering from a dissociative disorder or BOTH me and my friend misheard over the 10 decibels-over-hearing-damage-threshold eurotrash pop that was blasting the entire night. I'm rather inclined towards the first. So at this point, instead of inviting her to taste a can of whoop ass outside, we sucked it up and put our names on the list (we were hungry and we've already waited so long!). Long story/wait short, we ended up sitting in the bar area after an hr wait, by then our names still hasn't been called. The food was good, but please slap the hostess for me next time, she has a posh spice circa 2008 haircut and way too much makeup.

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/7/2011

    Came here for dinner with my boyfriend.  I have to say that I was very disappointed with the quality of the food.  We ordered the ternera asada, champinones a la plancha and gambas al ajillo.  All the dishes were mediocre, bland and definitely not authentic Spanish fare.  The portions were very generous, but the food was definitely not good.  Quantity did not make up for quality.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/11/2008
    2 check-ins

    This is THE tapas I have found anywhere near the loop.  Second only to People's in Chicago for me.  For the price this is by far the highest quality plates you will find.  I'm pretty sure everything is amazing but if I have to make some suggestions I'm going to go with the Spicy Potatoes (hot dish) and the Mojitos.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/9/2008

    I went here for dinner + wine with two girlfriends from college. We were there on a Monday evening at 6pm, so naturally it was very quiet. This means I'm not an accurate judge of the social scene, so I won't comment on that! The food, however, I can comment on and that was fantastic! We ordered 5 dishes to split between the 3 of us, and we thought it was too much food. And our waiter had recommended 6 dishes!! My favorites were the spicy potatoes and the tortilla espanada (sp??). It seemed like a very authentic place, our waiter was friendly, and the food came out quickly. It was also very reasonably priced -- we got SO much food for only $56. I'll definitely be coming back again.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/8/2008
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    Absolutely delicious every time.  Really fresh tasting and great sangria.  We love the  octopus, the scallops, the goat cheese, the list is endless.  The sangria is good as well.  The only problem is its always overcrowded loud and  LONG wait.  So as long as you have time in advance to sip sangria and wait its great.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/13/2008
    1 check-in

    Been going to this tapas place for a long while so I just keep coming back. Their sangria is ok. I actually prefer the white sangria over the red here. I always order clams (however, I think it was better back then), shrimp in garlic oil, beef with fries, cold salmon on toast, scallops with the orange rice, mushrooms. The deserts are great too. Make sure to order something from their specials menu because on occasion you'll find nice surprises there. This place is usually packed around dinner time especially on the weekends.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/16/2009

    Happened upon this restaurant while attending the Gold Coast Art Fair. Wow! Bring a large group and try all of the offerings. The tapas were outstanding. The pork dish with homemade fries was so tasty; we ordered it twice! Everything was hot and delicious. Try the multiple varieties of paella. Place is old and has plastic menus, but the food offsets any negative.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/27/2007

    Crowded. Too crowded, actually. It was hard to apreciate everything, when service would take forever. My friend and I ordered A LOT, but it was so annoying how it'd come one by one, with maybe ten-minute waiting period. I think we had to follow-up with our server twice for each plate we ordered. And the paella - the main reason I wanted to eat here - we were told that it was a 15-minute wait. Forty-five minutes passed, and I still nothing. The server was apologetic and was willing to give it us for free... but we had to wait for ten minutes. We just said no thanks, and left.

    I'd probably come here again, on a weekday. Again, waaaay to crowded.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/3/2011

    I must say the food has improved over the years! I haven't been here for years and I was taken back. It was like a completely new place. The food was much tastier this time around and I really enjoyed all the dishes we ordered. We came here for a friends birthday and we were stuffed by the time we all got out of there. Will be going back for sure and try the goat cheese! I'm not a big cheese eater, but this one definitely hit on the spot.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/14/2008

    Food was ok.- Meat was perfect, but my calamari was totally overcooked.  The chicken soup was also excellent, but the bread tasted stale.

    Dessert was great- I ended up having a crepe with ice cream and strawberries.

    Good place to go for a fairly cheap downtown price.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/28/2009

    I LOVE CAFE IBERICO!  Great food.  Love the loud lively atmosphere.  We've had some problems with the check not being correct, but it is always taken care of in the end.  Make sure you get the sangria- yum yum, white or red.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/13/2008

    Great food, even better sangria. Gets too crowded on the weekends though.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 2.0 star rating
    4/1/2009

    Way too crowded.  Would only recommend if you don't enjoy conversations at dinner.  Food is pretty good, but you there are other tapas places as good and won't give you a headache from the crowd and wait.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/31/2009

    I can't believe I'm going to write on this, but I saw all the stars it was receiving and I said what the hell!!!  First, this place is so 2000 and the crowd looks as if they were stuck in a time warp. The food is good, no doubt, but only if you do not mind sitting on a strangers lap to eat it!  I

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/8/2008

    How can you not like this place, everything about it is perfect.  Iberico has some of the best tapas in town for a reasonable price.  Sangria's are wonderful, tapas are amazing, you will feel like you will have to keep on eating and eating.  Also, try the desserts they are super!

  • 2.0 star rating
    11/13/2007

    No thanks. Nothing about this place makes me think about going back. The seafood paella was dry and didn't taste like much, the tapas was boring and standard. Service was just ok, drinks were just ok. There are other tapas places in town that are so much better, and it's to them that you should head.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/10/2009
    Listed in Favorites

    Great food and atmosphere, but it can be hard to get in the door because of large crowds.  If you are young and single, that is a very good thing.  We have a baby now so that makes it harder.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/1/2009

    Sangria was great. Can't beat $13.95 for a full pitcher. Our waiter was VERY nice and never let our glasses get below 1/2 full and brought us ice to make sure our drinks were "refreshing" 2 times without us asking. We had octopus with potatos, the beef skewers (medium) and the small clams in garlic sause. Between the two of us and with the pitcher of sangria we left FULL and pretty drunk. I can't complain about the wait even though it was Saturday night at 11pm and the place was hoppin. All the food was hot, freash and very tasty. No complaints. It was very loud but with everyone in sight drinking and the festive atmosphere you'd have to be a party pooper to complain. Get the banana dessert for anyone celebrating a birthday and you'll get a funny yet raunchy surprise.

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/27/2008

    I live for Spanish food...so I was so disappointed to finally try this place and not enjoy it! We went late, so maybe it's better when crowded, but the atmosphere wasn't the best. Huge place, odd decorations. The sangria was the worst I've ever had...the fruit was overly soaked as if it had been sitting for days and it was pulpy. Not fresh at all. The tapas were OK but nothing special. The service was actually very good and they were very nice when we wanted to add a table when more people arrived, but I much prefer Cafe Babareeba and Haro!

  • 3.0 star rating
    8/16/2007

    You can't ask anyone in Chicago what the best place for tapas is in the city without hearing Iberico so I couldn't wait to try the place.  Despite being *extremely* crowded we were seated in only minutes, and the sangria was good, but the food was mediocre and the ambiance was poor unless you enjoy feeling like you're eating in a noisy cafeteria.  Not bad, not great.

    It's definitely a group-sort of place, but if you're looking for a more romantic tapas spot with better food I'd recommend Emilio's.  1492 was also good for a candle-lit evening, but only slightly better food and a bit higher price.

  • 1.0 star rating
    8/8/2011

    Horrible service.  They don't care about satisfying customers anymore because they have so many, so the servers are horrible.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/25/2008

    I've dined at Cafe Iberico for nearly 15 years - it's my absolute favorite restaurant in Chicago. Everything on the menu is delicious (well almost everything - I'm convinced that the Crema Catalana is the same item as the Creme Brulee from Trader Joes). The sangria is also great. Prices are extremely reasonable. Cafe Iberico is our go-to restaurant when we have guests from out of town. Unless you arrive by 6pm on a Friday or Saturday, you're probably looking at a one hour plus wait. Among others menu items, these are very tasty: pulpo a la plancha, patatas bravas, croquetas de pollo, platano al caramel.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/28/2011

    I have been coming to this restaurant for eight years. I always make the effort to take friends visiting from out of town here. The food, both cold warm and paella-- is delicious. It's a wonderful place for friends to get together to hang out, especially in the evening. This restaurant is definitely in my list of the top 5 best places to eat out in Chicago!

  • 3.0 star rating
    1/30/2008
    Listed in I won't be back!!

    The food is kind of hit or miss. I had a few dishes that were good but also a few that weren't. The sangria is pretty good. I actually like Cafe Babareeba better. This place gets way too crowded though.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/24/2008
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    This place is a standard Chicago restaurant. Iberico is probably the restaurant I have been to the most in Chi-town. (Or, it is probably a close second to Piece.) Every time I go there, it is crowded. Now they have redone the entrance area to make the wait a little more manageable. They have the hostess stand up front now with electronic names and numbers flashing your table availability. So technologically savvy! This is a great place to go with a group of friends, try a bunch of tapas, and drink some tasty sangria. The price is really reasonable and the food is fast! Some of my favorite tapas are the scallops, the octopus, and the mussels.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/9/2005

    This place rocks for tapas!  The wait can be long, but it is totally worth it.  I've only had a problem with my order once, where they forgot to bring a plate of tapas, and when they did, it was on the house.  A group of 4 can eat like royalty and roll out of there on your bellies for way under $100.  This is one of my all time favorite spots to kick it with friends eating great food and watching awesome Spanish music videos!
    I would recommend the goat cheese and basil bread (it has some name I've forgotten right now)... get two orders, you'll want it!!  It's like a fiesta all year round!

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/26/2009
    1 check-in

    Cafe Iberico is a very nice and inviting tapas restaurant. My wife and I have recently started going there regularly either on Monday or Friday night. I used to dread that place for the longest time because of the overwhelming amount of people crowding the space. I now know better and go there on week nights. We usually get there by 7pm. We always get a table promptly and the service is fine. I don't know why people complained about the service but our waitress brought our food and the check, that's all I ask for. The food is probably as good as any other tapas restaurant but it's definitely cheaper. My wife and I shared a half-pitcher of sangria ($7.95), three tapas plates and one dessert and paid $46! Add the downtown location and the cozy atmosphere  and it makes for a great dining experience. Highly recommend.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/10/2008

    I hadn't been to Iberico in over 7 years and it hasn't changed one bit (and that's a good thing).  The food is authentic Spanish tapas that are delicious and reasonably priced.  I think the most expensive tapa on the menu is $5.95.  Entrees can be $9.95 but still...The sangria is awesome.  For some reason this place attracts a ridiculously high number of parents pushing strollers and carrying babies.  Sit in the bar if you want to side-step the romper room action.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/29/2010
    1 check-in

    we tried the upstairs restaurant instead for the northern style of tapas. it was ok but should have sticked with the southern style. the prune wrapped with meat was really good as was  the white wine sangria

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/28/2006

    Try the Scallops!!  YUM!

    But the sangria is just so so.

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/24/2008

    I have a love-hate relationship with Iberico. I try and try but I can't love this place. It's not bad but it's really not great. It's sooo loud and I think that part of its draw is that it's trendy. I think that people go for the people and not the food. My friends love going there to people watch and maybe meet some new people. I would say Iberico has mediocre food as far as tapas go. If you want a trendy tapas place, Emilio's is sooo much better. Their food is so much fresher, done better and you can actually get your server to pay attention to you.

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/9/2009

    I've been here with friends and coworkers and its always so freakin delicious! The sangria is wonderful and I always leave there so stuffed because I've eaten a million different crazy awesome dishes. I would (and do) definitely recommend Cafe Iberico to friends.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/13/2007

    iberico's makes my top 3 chicago restaurants that i miss terribly.  i just about get misty-eyed and heart achey when i think about this joint.  maybe this is why i held off so long on the review ... and to think, i barely made it 1/2way through the menu (thanks to many a repeat order) before i took off .

    this place stands for affordable, tasty tapas, in a lively atmosphere.  i love the seating - piles and piles o' tables where you are right up on your neighbor.  forget about the standard american bubble of comfort/elbow room and enjoy the company!

    their food is damn rica (as far as authenticity, nothing i've had in the states tastes like the tapas i had when i lived in spain - minus the jamon serrano i smuggled into the country, so that point is moot).  the sangria is quite smooth.  and, joder! - the portions for the price!  stuff yourself silly and STILL have food to take home.  the wait staff is awesome and super DUPER fast.

    if you love your carbs, the never-ending bread basket will make your day.

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/2/2009

    This place is ok.  The food is not  good. The desserts on the other hand are great. They have great prices but thats the only thing they have going for them. My biggest complaint about this place is that they do not take reservations on fri or sat nights so you have to be prepared to wait anywhere from 1.5 hrs-2 hrs for a table.

  • 2.0 star rating
    6/30/2011

    meh. Tapas Valencia or ba ba reba are much better! don't waste your time or money. Both of my other tapas restaurant that I recommend are better and cheaper. We gladly gave our leftovers to a homeless man.  I'm just saying. And after going to Spain, we have recognized the very obvious differences. Just because Cafe Ib-gross was in a trendy neighborhood, does not mean it is any good. but...good service...so pay for that!

  • 1.0 star rating
    10/5/2007

    All these "popular" tapas places (like ba-ba-reeba) taste the same to me, I think they all get their frozen food from the same vendor and they don't even try to add something different. I definitely prefer smaller and less known restaurants with better food and their own identity

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/25/2010

    I always thought the rule was to never order off a menu with pictures of its food!  This place is quite the exception, kids!  I couldn't have previously told you what authentic spanish food was, but apparently it's exactly what is served at Cafe Iberico.  Some of the menu is hit or miss, but it's a huge menu.  Everyone has their options and there's a lot to choose from!  Make sure to get a pitcher of the Sangria of course!  The restaurant was very busy and quite crowded, but it's large, so we were seated relatively quickly (maybe a 15 or 20 minute wait).  I do believe I enjoyed the hot tapas rather than the cold, but to each their own.  The service was outstanding and the price is right.  Plates come out as they are ready and you can order as you go.  Some highlights were the pollo croquettes, the potato salad, the mushrooms and the baked goat cheese.  One big downfall was the trio of gazpachos.  Kinda gross, but some people like obnoxiously flavored cold soups, so do what you will.  All in all, it's really quite a fun dining experience and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something different on a Saturday night.

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/12/2011

    I LOVE THIS PLACE! Even though the last time I went the server was less than stellar.  The sangria's are great! The mussels are AMAZING! I can't wait to go back.

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/8/2009

    My fiance and I went here after he received a few recommendations from friends. We were both disappointed. Our first tapas experience was cafe babareeba, and this came nowhere near as good.

    Long wait, completely packed, my sangria was spilled twice upon delivery - the sangria wasn't the greatest I've had.

    Food quality was lacking. I got that vibe that it's all pre-prepared in vats and then just scooped up upon ordering. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but I don't want the quality to reflect that.

    If you're looking for tapas, do yourself a favor and try cafe babareeba. You will not be disappointed there.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/9/2008

    The Best Tapas place I have ever been to! I've been to Tapas places in Las Vegas, Pasadena, and LA and Cafe Iberico's in Chicago has been my favorite. They have a HUGE selection and their Paella is soooooooo good. The prices are really great and you get a LOT of food for the price. It's quite noisy, and not as intimate as other Tapas places I have been to, but I still think this place is great! The more people going with you the better, because then you could try more of their tapas since there is just way too much food for just 2-3 tapas dishes. Some of my favorite dishes include (sorry if I list a lot, they are all sooo good):

    Paella Iberica
    PULPO A LA PLANCHA (Octopus with Potatoes)
    GAMBAS AL AJILLO
    CALAMARES A LA PLANCHA
    CHAMPIÑONES A LA PLANCHA
    MEJILLONES A LA MARINERA
    PLATANO AL CARAMELO

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/22/2007

    I've been here too many times over the past 5+ years. I first found out about the place when trying to find a place to take my friend out for her birthday. The tapas were good, prices were good and the white sangria was good. The only downside is that they don't take reservations and during the weekend night, you can expect to wait up to an hour or more. So if you want to try out this place, I highly recommend going for early dinner or weekday night. I like it better then Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba and Quartino's tapas.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/18/2009
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    The only thing I can say about this place is Viva Espana!!!! I haven't been in a while but I can taste the tapas as I write this review.... There is no other tapas place like it in Chicago.... Keep the Sangria flowing and PLEASE don't even close.... See you soon!!! lol

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/25/2008

    I like their patatas bravas mostly- but that's cuz I'll take spicy food any day over anything else. There are other good tapas, and the sangria is good if you are lucky. I've been there when they were ridiculously busy and our sangria was watered down. It does suck that on the weekends you may have to wait 45min to an hour!

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/10/2011

    Slow service and staff were not friendly. Food is average.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/21/2007

    having lived in Spain for a year I'm always craving good tapas and sangria to remind me of those awesome restaurants in Barcelona that I would frequent while studying abroad there....Cafe Iberico is probably the closest thing I found to the feel of the pinchos bars and tapas restaurants in Spain.  I go there with every visitor I have and they all seem to agree on the tasty food and yummy sangria!  The long wait is well worth it, everytime!  Plus I love to hear and see Spanish music videos in the background which remind me of Spain even more and make me want to go back! Viva Espana y viva la Sangria y las tapas en Cafe Iberico!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/6/2008

    Iberico is my second choice for tapas in Chicago.  The food is good, but the wait for a table is usually long.  I like the food and the environment at Ba-ba-ree-ba better, so for me this place will always be second best.  Still recommended for those in the area.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/5/2009

    I used to think this place was the bomb! We went here last week and it is much too noisy and just a cluster f@$*! The host desk was a nightmare. We waited well over our quoted time to be seated in a cramped end of a party of ten that were over served. I love the food but we need to work on the ambiance.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/30/2008

    Cafe Iberico is very good and it seems like I am not the only one who thinks so.  I went there on a Tuesday night and amazingly there was a small wait (about 10 minutes). As I waited to be sat I went to the bar with my girlfriend.  We both ordered a drink (which were reasonably priced).  Then when our table was ready we followed the hostess and ordered our food.  We ordered 4 things.  The olives, gambas, pulpo, and paella.  My favorite was the pulpo.   It was awesome.  The only complaint I have was that the music was very loud.  My girlfriend and I had a hard time hearing one another.  It got a little annoying because she kept having saying "What?"  Also, the girls bathroom was very dirty.  It was a little disconcerning to be at a restaurant with a dirty bathroom.  Despite all of this the food and service was very good.

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/27/2008

    I really enjoyed the sangria and tapas here.  My favorite dishes were the mussels, which were plump and fresh, and the creamy garlic potatoes.  Admittedly, it's hard to mess those 2 dishes up, but I've been to places that have!

    My girlfriends and I went on a Saturday and ended up waiting 1.5 hours, but we just drank sangria pitchers at the bar while we waited, and the time flew by.  However, when I go next time, I'll probably try and pick a weekday night when it's less busy...

  • 1.0 star rating
    5/13/2012

    terrible place! they are serving you the small tapas that seat for hours in the display and on top of it they microwave them!!! THAT IS TOTALLY GROSS!!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    10/26/2008

    A large variety of dishes which were alot larger than one would expect to pay at a tapas place.  Good place for seafood.  I think it's nicer to be seated on the ground level than in the basement.

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/20/2008

    This place really wasn't worth the trip. Cafe Ba-ba-reeba is better, and Emilio's off Roosevelt in the burbs is the best! The spicy potatoes were a huge disappointment, and the restaurant just lacked personality.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 5.0 star rating
    7/12/2007

    amazing.  my favorite parts
    1. only 12.95 for a pitcher of sangria and its not watered down with ice
    2.  the octopus was excellent
    3. great service, friendly waiter, helped us pick out what was good
    4. good prices.  we had 7 tapas, 2 deserts, a pitcher of sangria, and it was only 70

    great enviroment to get together with a few friends.  def recommend it

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/6/2008

    The best Spanish food I've ever had!  I love the 'croquetas de pollo' (creamy ham puffs--trust me, try it) and the garlic potato salad.  The olives are to die for and I am always pleased with the service.  The red sangria seems like the obvious choice to drink, but make sure and try the white sangria as well--it's fantastic!  The prices are good, the atmosphere (now smoke free!) is a bit loud, but with a European flair.  Great for large groups as you share food.

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/14/2005

    I like it here alot.  the white sangria is better than the red and tons of fruit in it.  the tapas... try the roasted cold veggies, garlic chicken skewers and the chocolate mousse (comes with a big fat strawberry on top).
    nice place for b-days....you & your friends are never rushed out.  
    and btw...I know someone that used to work there and she loves it as well, so if you have ever worked in the food biz, you know thats quite a compliment!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/21/2007

    I always have such a great time at this restaurant.  The tapas are fantastic and the sangria is absolutely fabulous.  While I wish they allowed people to make reservations, they do let people eat at the bar if they choose to.  For a friend's birthday, our party of 4 decided to do just that and we ended up having a great time.  Their service is quick and friendly, and the food is inexpensive.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/11/2005

    It looks small from the outside but this place is actually huge!  Its really good tapas for cheap.. I went with a party of 16 once and our bill was $120 with drinks!  You can't complain about that!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/21/2010

    Mmmm. . . all I have to say is that I would never expect whipped mayonnaise over potatoes (patatas ali-oli) to taste so good, but it does! This place is a great. A fun environment. Great food. Would definitely come back.

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/19/2008

    I love this place. Sangria is tasty, the food is yummy and the desert is awesome! The best part...your bill is always cheap. Best for big groups to enjoy all the great food. Go with friends and enjoy! It maybe a little loud but that's because so many people are there not because of the music.

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/24/2007

    I've been to Barcelona and Madrid. Coming back from that trip...I've been asked on what food did I crave the most. Growing up with the many different cuisnes that Chicago has to offer-It's always been Spanish food, particularly the tapas at Cafe Iberico! It always reminded me of the tapas bars. The food and sangria are terrific! Great lively atmosphere and people watching!
    They've changed their front of their restaurant which makes it better so that you are not battling through the crowds on a busy night. The flat screen tvs now flash your name and party number as oppose to the mic they use to use. A downfall is the no reservations on the weekend...but if you're lucky, and don't mind the wait-it's worth it for me. Just have a pitcher of sangria while waiting at the bar. If you are an absolute picky eater, this is definitely not your type of place. Fave Recos: pulpo a la plancha, patatas bravas, croquetas, saumon ahumado, and definitely the red sangria! The white sangria is refreshing but love the red!!! Only thing missing are the flamenco dancers. Salud!

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/26/2007

    A great place for tapas if you are ready for the wait.  The prices are incredibly reasonable, and that is no secret based upon the number of people eating and waiting to eat.  The noise level was a bit high, but the service was good, the food was great, and the sangria was worth the wait.  I can't wait to go back!

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/25/2007

    I was introduced to Tapas at Cafe Iberico.  The food is great, service is superb, but the wait is horrendous.  I guess everybody else likes this place a little too much.  If you want to check this place out, I would avoid this place on weekends.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/11/2007

    Probably my favorite restaurant.  The food is always hot and delicious.  And you can't beat the prices and portions.  The sangria is authentic and again... you can't beat the price.  A great place to go on a date or with a large group of friends.  I prefer to go with more people so you can order a greater variety and share with everyone.  

    While I've never been to Spain, the food seems authentic.  They have specials to accompany the traditional hot and cold tapas and paellas.  I've never left disappointed.

    As most reviewers noted, the place does get very busy so get there early on Friday or Saturday nights or expect to wait.  Which isn't so bad with a glass of sangria in your hand.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/29/2012

    Having gone to Spain and therefore experiencing the culture and tappas there I have have been going to and recommending Cafe Iberico to family and friends for years. This week though they made this Meeting and Event Planner love them even more. Wednesday evening I recieved a last minute request from the client to set up a dinner for 35-40 people for the next night with a budget of $50 per person including dinner, adult beverages, tax and tip! I called CI the next day at noon and their response was "We will make it work, please just let us know in the next hour so we can hire additional staff!" And make it work they did! Multiple phone calls, menu changes (we went with one of their group dinners which I then tore about and redid based on my groups multiple dietary restrictions) I had what was related to me (by multiple TOP EXECUTIVES) at the client as being not only a fabulous meal but  a really wonderful experience. They said they couldn't ask for better service, food or ambience and .. I came in under the $50 budget! Thank you Cafe Iberico for making me look like a Rock Star!

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/15/2008

    I enojy this restaurant. A light meal and some Sangria to go along with it. Just what i needed! The food is great, the Sangria is oh so yummy! Service here could be a little better, but yes this is always very crowded. Which also makes this place VERY loud.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/27/2008
    Listed in Gimme some mo.

    1 word: Sangria.  Can't wait to get my hands on some more of that delicious sangria.  Oh yeah, and there's the food, also tasty.  Took my parents here for their first tapas experience, and they loved it.  Only complaint was the noise level, which can get a little out of hand.  Otherwise, one of my favorite dining destinations in the city.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/10/2009

    Let me just say I have been going to this place for years; birthdays, girls night out!, etc...The tapas here are amazing and at reasonable prices. The sangria (red) is tasty and might I say very potent! Also, reasonably priced! Tapas are meant to be shared with friends and family and that is the type of environment you get in this establishment! Staff is friendly and attentive. The only set back is the place is not that large and can get packed on the weekends and wait times can be up to 30mins to an hour. But order a pitcher of Sangria while you wait!!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/21/2011

    wide tapas selection & cold beers. the joint is packed on fridays and saturdays, so expect the noise level to be high. parking could be challenging too!

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/4/2007

    1st Time: Good food, and the price is great!
    BUt NOOOOO free refills on pop :(
    Service was fast w/ regards to the food, but our waiter was not so great, he didnt even speak!

    2nd Time: Food was even more amazing than the first time, but like i said they need new staff. The bus boys are super hepful and nice, but the actual wait staff is awful.

  • 2.0 star rating
    10/5/2005

    quote: The white sangria was awesome

    I agree!  The red sangria wasn't that good and the tapas were average and some below average.  The service was poor with attitude and we waited eventhough we had reservations.  I can't believe they still allow smoking in restaurants in Chicago.  I would pass on this place.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/3/2008

    My first time trying Tapas I went to Cafe Iberico. The food was great! I loved the atmosphere which was up beat, it was a bit loud but the food made up for it. I always get the garlic shrimp, mushrooms, and the mussels. The price is really reasonable. Sometimes the waits are long. The best part about this place is there Sangria!! Both red or white are really fantastic! Everytime someone comes into town that never been to Chicago I always take them here!

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/30/2008

    oh my gosh. how can you not love this place? this place is absolutely amazing. i'm a huge tapas fan myself and the first time I went there was with my first ex... didn't seem it was great back then but when i went back with my sweety and some of our friends, it was amazing! I guess good company definitely helps the dining experience. Anyway, this place is one of my favorite restaurant in Chicago and I highly recommend to everyone!

    FOOD:
    not mind blowing but decent and amazing sometimes.

    DRINK:
    not the best Sangria but not bad either

    AMBIANCE:
    again... it's OK.

    SERVICE:
    could not be any better!! everyone's so friendly.

    I know I have nothing strong to say about this place but let me tell you. you HAVE to go there and see it for yourself. It's the EXPERIENCE that matters the most. I always have the BEST time whenever I'm there. So if you have friends visiting from out of town... or just want to have an awesome laid back dinner with your family or friends your dogs co-workers whatever! This is the place. I love this place so much.

  • 5.0 star rating
    3/21/2007

    I went on a Monday night at 7pm there was no wait, however the dining room was packed. My server was extremely attentive and I couldn't believe how fast my food arrived.  The $3 glass of sangria was good especially for the low price. I ordered the baked goat cheese with pesto and tomato sauce tapas and the grilled sea scallops over saffron rice. I was beyond impressed with the quality of the food as well as the service; also, it is refreshing to find a restaurant where I can feel comfortable eating alone. To top it all off I left the restaurant in less than 40 minutes with a bill under $15 that is my kind of restaurant for a simple Monday night dinner. Complete satisfaction.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/16/2007

    I went here on a not-so-great date so that may have clouded some of my opinions and it did not live up to his opinion of it. The guy picked all the dishes so they may not have been what I normally picked. Some of the dishes were spectacular. My favorite though was the white wine sangria. It also was really crowded but I did not feel cramped. I also liked that they had a wide and varied selection. I would love to go here with a bunch of friends. Unfortunately, it usually has a long  wait.

  • 3.0 star rating
    11/14/2008

    the food here is pretty decent and the prices are a little cheaper than most tapas places in chicago.  which brings up a weird thing in that all the tapas places in chicago are giant restaurants with hundreds of tables and servers.  having lived in spain for a while i don't think i've ever eaten tapas at a place with more than 10 tables, and usually some surly bartender in the back dished out the food.  
    anyways...if you want tapas before a night out in gold coast/river north, iberico is a good choice, but be prepared to wait a long time for a table because the place is usually packed.  if you're just in the mood for some spanish food, check out cafe babareeba or emilios instead.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/20/2005

    One of my favorite tapas restaurants here in chicago.  They are reasonably priced and have a large menu (with some excellent choices) and great sangria.  It gets really busy here, especially on friday and saturday nights...the wait can be hours long...but go to the bar, order some sangria, and do some people watching, cause there's lots to be seen.  I guarantee you'll have a great time.  It's less busy on the weekdays, and they make reservations sun-thurs only.  A very European feeling place.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/5/2010

    Delicious authentic Spanish tapas. My mom is from Madrid, and loves going here whenever she is in town. I recommend the Spanish tortilla, Morcilla, Gambas al ajillo, and be the Sangria is delicious.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/21/2007

    This is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the city, and hands down, it's my top pick for tapas.  The food and drinks are awesome, and the prices are incredibly reasonable.  At one time or another, I've taken most of my friends here, and they've all thanked me for it.

    The Food:
    Served tapas-style.  Try ordering around 2 items per person at the table and then plan on sharing everything.  Some personal faves from the menu include: Queso de Cabra, Pincho de Pollo, Championes a la Plancha, Patatas Bravas, Croquetas de Pollo, Pincho de Solomillo, and Jamon Iberico.  Soooo good.

    The Drinks:
    You definitely need to order sangria by the pitcher, as it's some of the best I've had.  Personally, I prefer the white wine version, but the red wine sangria is also amazing.

    The Ambiance:
    The restaurant has a quaint feel to it...pretty much how I'd expect a real cafe in Spain to look.  Expect to see a very "international" crowd there and soccer (a.k.a. futbol) games on the tvs in the bar area.  Also, a word of advice...this place gets packed on weekend evenings, so you may have a bit of a wait, but it's totally worth it!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/25/2007

    Ever seen sangria mixed in large garbage bin-sized vats?  They sure make a lot of it here.  The place is a bit loud and crowded at times but serves relatively inexpensive good food.  I think a lot of people have great memories from here just sitting with friends drinking and eating.

  • 5.0 star rating
    9/5/2008

    Love, love, love!  Went with a group of eleven people and service was fantatstic and the food was awesome.  I can't wait to go back for a few more pitchers of red/white sangria and yummy food!  So affordable too!

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/13/2005
    Listed in Outside SF

    This is the best tapas place that I have been to...EVER. I love everything about it -- the understated decor, the authentic tapas, the great prices in a great accessible location. It deserves to have reservations booked for the next decade.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/13/2007

    i love this place, mainly for the white and red wine sangria! this place is affordable and is great to go to with large groups.

    the tapas arent the best ive had...they are good, but not fantasticly tasty. but hey, youre in chicago. whatever.

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/14/2008

    Ok, this is not Cafe Ba Ba Reeba. I went over the weekend and was able to get in fast but the food wasn't that great. Firstly they charge per refil of soda. They don't give you more plates. The shrimp tastes kinda funky. The best part of dinner was the dessert. Everyone at our table had different items and each of them were great. The tapas are not the best I've tasted in the city.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/9/2008

    I have a couple of friends who frequent this place as if they were part owners.   I think that they are pretty consistent in regards to food, service tends to be mediocre sometimes.  The sangria and food are decent
    For the price.   Cheap good food and sangria that gets you happy for cheap, did I mention cheap.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/10/2008

    I thought this place was going to bankrupt me, given the neighborhood.  But we had a party of 8, ordered at least 15 things from the menu, plus several pitchers of sangria (delicious), and our bill was still under $30 / person.  Excellent waitstaff -- very attentive to everyone at our table, and the restaurant was packed.  The only drawbacks are the televisions playing soccer or bad 80's videos in every corner of the restaurant and a painful shortage of restrooms.

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/29/2007

    Cafe Iberico is one of those great restaurants where you are always guaranteed good food and lingering conversations with friends.  I have been here more times than I could count and have never been disappointed.  

    Be prepared to wait for a table and make yourself comfortable with a pitcher of sangria.  Try the patatas bravas and garlic lemon shrimp for starters.  The best part of Iberico is the selection of hot and cold tapas which make it perfect for large groups.  Even the pickiest of eaters can find something to please them here.

  • 2.0 star rating
    8/16/2007

    Eh. It's just not that good. Gloppy sauces, sangria mixed in garbage cans. Fine in a pinch but the food is just not "clean" enough.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/3/2010

    Two words: cheap. sangria.  This review could end here, and it would perfectly describe Cafe Iberico.  The food is delicious and authentic.  Best of all, it's cheap.  Plates come in $3-$7 arrangements, and serving size is great for 2 people to share.  The sangria, which comes in either red or white wine versions, is delicious and a wonderful way to start the evening.  And, like the food, it's also cheap.  What really makes Cafe Iberico a place we keep coming back to is the feel that you're in a casual family-run restaurant in Spain eating tapas.  If you're looking to impress on a first date, or impress a business client, this would obviously not be the place.  But just as Cafe Iberico makes you feel comfortable and at home, this is the perfect place for your friends and significant other, people who make you feel comfortably at home. This is one of the few places in Chicago where we return to with some regularity, because their weekly specials (e.g. rabbit stew) are continuously changing and ALWAYS fantastic, and their classics are always as good as we remember them. Must haves include, but not limited to: queso de cabra (Baked goat cheese with fresh tomato basil sauce), croquetas de pollo (chicken croquettes with aioli sauce), paella, lomo de buey a la brasa (beef tenderloin with potatoes), almejas en salsa verde (clams with shallots and white wine). And don't forget the sangria!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    8/9/2007
    Listed in My Neighborhood

    If you want authentic tapas, this is the place... the only place in Chicago.  The decor reflects the background of the owners.  They are from Galicia, a region in northern Spain.  However, the menu comprises a variety of tastes from all over Spain.  Very tasty.  Great variety.  Spanish music is always in the background, definitely not quiet when it's busy.  Lunchtime, however is quiet.  Good place for showers, birthdays, etc.  The food is consistent, and very affordable.  The specials are always interesting and never the same.  It's always fun to go in larger groups.  On weekends, you may be waiting for a table, but the sangria (yummy!!) makes the time fly.  You can even order a tapa at the bar while you wait.  I've been a frequent flier since they opened, it's good food and a fun time!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/6/2010

    The sangria is great. The paella we had was wonderful also. We had several selections of tapas and we liked everything we had. It was a bit noisy, so maybe not the best for a quiet evening. But very lively for group dinners.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/29/2007

    This place feels a bit like a family friendly Spanish restaurant.

    And it's in the Gold Coast.

    Both of which would make you think it should suck.

    But the food is pretty good and very fairly priced.

    Cant complain with a substantial salmon dish for $7.

    I know nothing about Basque cuisine, but Cafe Iberico is definitely a good, affordable way to get introduced to it.

  • 1.0 star rating
    9/13/2009

    The last time my wife and I came here was about 5 yrs ago. Back then, we would go often and blitz ourselves on tapas and sangria. The only real complaint back then was how loud it would be because it would *always* be packed. Last night was the first time going there since then and the changes were horribly unbelievable. This place transformed into a dive.

    We are living in the suburbs now and we decided that we'll chance more than just one glass of sangria. The server would not upgrade our sangria glasses to a 1/2 pitcher and said he'd have to void out the two-glass order. 'So what?!?' we're thinking, they're going to get more money! Duh! We just said 'whatever' and took the glasses. We took one sip and noticed immediately that they were watered down, significantly. When the server gave us the new plates from the adjacent table for our tapas, we noticed that the plates were not cleaned thoroughly. We felt debris/residue on the underside and could see bits on the topside. My wife and I started getting that "What happened to this place?" look on our faces. When the tapas did come, it didn't taste flavorful nor did it look appealing. To top it off, one of the plates (chorizo y morcillo) wasn't cooked sufficiently and we contracted food poisoning. We lived in the bathroom the next day wondering if this was enough to file a suit or notify IDPH (IL Dept of Public Health). Before we're done w/ the tapas, we asked the server for the check so we could just pay, eat what's left and get the hell out of there. A complaint to the management would not have been productive because it wasn't about the money. The quality of the visit was horrible compared to then.

    This place used to be the bomb and everyone in town knew it. But after seeing some recent reviews, I'm not the only one who noticed that things were bad. They must have gotten different chefs and/or different management during the time. What a shame. Lost a once-great hang-out. We will never go back there and I recommend nobody else patrons the place. If anyone actually does enjoy their visit, they would have been blown away (in a good sense) back then.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.
  • 4.0 star rating
    1/16/2008

    A friend's sister was in town, so the occasion was to meet her sister.  We were a group of 9.  We ordered something like 9, 10, or 11 plates.  2 pitchers of sangria, and 3 desserts.  The tapas were alright.  It was a matter of 9 people trying to order stuff everyone would like or not mind passing on.  So, I'll just mention the ones I tried.  The goat cheese is always a good choice wherever you go for tapas.  For some reason it's always everyone's favorite wherever I go.  Cafe Iberico was no exception, and everyone raved about the goat cheese.  The shrimp were alright, but could have been better, more flavor, better presentation perhaps?  The chicken skewers were really good, and the potatoes were also good, my favorite.  The potatoes are also something I see at all the tapas places I've tried... can't go wrong.  Croquetas were good too.  Overall a good meal.  I'm just not one for sharing.  I know what I like and I hate when I have to share in exchange for some things I don't like, plus have to try not ordering anything a few people won't eat.  So, I usually like it better when I have my own plate or at least a lot of what i do like.  We didn't order paella, because a friend said not to, on account of the paella being too filling after food and the dessert being so good we HAD to leave room for it.  Which brings me to my next point...

    Dessert was great.  i love dessert, and have an incredible sweet tooth!  We got one dish was looked to me to be essentially Creme Brulee, but with a slightly different texture.  It was good, and recommended by the friend who said we had to order dessert.  Then there was the second dessert, a plantain cooked and covered with a caramel substance, caramelized then hardened a bit on the plantain, which all sat in another caramel-y sauce which tasted like toffee,  and this was all topped off with ice cream.  I love plantains, so this was my choice.  mm, it was pretty good.  Then the third dessert was on the specials menu.  It was a mousse dish.  Chocolate and white (white chocolate?) mousse.  This was AWE-SOME.  I think it may have been my favorite, even over the plantains =/

    Service was great here.  It was fast (we had reservations), accurate, no problems or annoyances or waiting for our server, because service seemed perfectly timed with the meal.

    It all came out to $18 per person, and that INCLUDED tip =)

  • 5.0 star rating
    7/12/2007

    Best tapas in Chicago! So affordable ($12.95 Sangria), and the tapas are excellent. Octopus sounds weird, but get it.. it's great. The things I ordered off the Weekly specials menu were all incredible and delicious. Fun atmosphere, and yummy food. Definitely would come here over Babareeba.

  • 2.0 star rating
    3/23/2007

    I am not a Cafe Iberico fan at all. On my one trip here I can't remember anything that my group actually enjoyed besides the Sangria. The paella was runny, the croquettas seemed to have mayo in them which was really gross. Just not an overall good eating experience.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/21/2007

    Decent Tapas. Nothing to impressive compared to what we have in CA. The Monticello Rioja gets a 5/10. I would try somewhere else before coming back.

  • 5.0 star rating
    4/9/2010

    Hands down, my favorite tapas restaurant in all of Chicago....and others may agree too with the long lines on weekends and nights, so be prepared to wait for at least an hour. The restaurant doesn't take reservations but offers stellar white and red sangria to keep you occupied while waiting for a table. The sangria aren't watered down with a pound of ice compared to other places I've been to and they have a decent wine selection as well. The decor is funky because the restaurant is divided into 4 sections each with its own theme. Service is great and I applaud them for their work because it can be a madhouse at times with all the people standing around at the bar and loud conversations coming from all sides. Both their hot and cold tapas are of good quality, namely, bacon wrapped dates, mussels, goat cheese and grilled octopus. As with most paellas, it takes around 20 minutes, so order it right when you are seated if you are interested. My favorite has always been the seafood paella, very generous chunks of seafood provided! Top off the night with some flan and coffee and you'll leave with a contented smile on your face!

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/16/2007

    "Oh Cafe Iberico. How I love thee... let me count the ways..." For real though, I love this place. The tapas are consistenly good (I have ordered the same ones almost every time for the last four years) and the prices remain completely reasonable. The wines by the glass (does anyone see a theme with me?) are great for their $4-6 price tags and the sangria is spot-on.  The service is hit or miss (sometimes the wait is unapologetically too long for the dishes) but I can usually keep myself busy people watching. Just a note for those who like a quieter dining experience, this place is not for you. It's noisy and bustling, which I like, but I know bothers some people. To sum it up, this is a great go-to place for an affordable, filling, fun place for friends who like to drink :) and taste a bunch of dishes for a reasonable price.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/27/2007
    1 check-in

    California may be wonderful for a good many things- but from the South Bay to the Mission to the Haight to all of those wanna be tapas places-- they have all, in one way or another, made me sigh with longing for Iberico! From thousands of miles away, the chicken croquettas call my name -- sangria wafts with perfect garlic shrimp and the best tortilla espagnola (well, besides my own!) - the queso de cabro-- put me out of my misery and fly them here to open one in San Fran!!!

  • 2.0 star rating
    5/22/2008

    If I have to compare Ibericos to Cafe Babareeba, I would go for  Babareeba, since they do have the best sangria and spicy potatoes.  Ibericos has one of my favorite dishes such as the pincho de pollo. The sangria is okay but not amazing.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/21/2007

    My favorite TAPAS place! Love the staff and great service! Love the FOOD! Mussells, Shrimp, Calamari, Goat Cheese, Soups, Salads, & Steaks! SANGRIAS and Great Crowd! Love the Latin Music Videos! Great for GROUPS and also quick appetizer and drink w/ friends! Had a Elementary School reunion here! It was awesome! My pals loved it too!

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/16/2007

    Love this place. The menu has a smaller selection than the other tapas restaurants in the city, but it has never bothered me since everything is so tasty. And its the cheapest tapas place ive visited yet! Doesnt have modern decor or fancy lighting, but an old world feel thats still comfy.

  • 4.0 star rating
    7/31/2007

    Best deal for sangria I've found.  Large pitcher (not filled with ice) for only $13.  Fills six glasses.  Tapas are also good, and they have weekly specials so you can always try new ones each time you go.  Definitely get the "platano al caremelo" for dessert.  If you like bananas.  And caramel.  And ice cream.

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/5/2010

    Best Spanish Tapas in the city - bar none!!!!

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/12/2008

    My absolute Favorite place in the city. It is fun, inexpensive, full of energy, food is good.

  • 3.0 star rating
    7/6/2007

    Just to add to the 100's of reviews, not that anyone will read the 133rd review, BUT- this place is great if you've got a loud voice and don't mind eating second-rate food. The sangria is the ONLY reason to go here (again, not a tapas fan, and even for tapas, this is not so good). But, if you wanna hit on/get picked up by someone while eating tso-so tapas and getting drunk on yummy sangria, here's your place!

  • 3.0 star rating
    5/17/2007

    I'm somewhat confused as to why this place is always so crazy busy.  It must be the insanely cheap prices.  A pitcher of sangria (the best I'ver ever had apart from a friend's mom) is only $12.  Other than the cheap sangria, Cafe Iberico leaves a lot to be desired.   We tried five different tapas dishes and all were mediocre.  Just a hint, don't get the potato dish that seemed to have an entire jar of paprika in it.  Yuck!

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/30/2010

    One of my favorite low key places in Chicago.  I always go there for a start of girls night out . Very reasonably priced, great food, great Sangria !!!

  • 4.0 star rating
    6/28/2008

    The food is cheap and delicious and the sangria is also delectable.  The atmosphere is good, though a little cramped and loud.  Overall, however, it is a very good place to grab a bite, or even go on a date :)

  • 4.0 star rating
    8/23/2008

    hit this place up after finiding karyn's cooked to be closed.   food was good, solid spanish tapas--loved the tomato bread, ham, and manchengo, delicious!   the patatas bravas were really good, too--just the right amount of spice and sauce.  
    we got there kind of early, so it wasn't that busy yet, but it was really busy when we left and i can see why!   the service was efficient and pleasant, the sangria really good, and of course, it was cheap!   $45 for 2 people to be completely stuffed with food and wine--can't beat it.  i will definitely go back, despite the long wait for the bathroom.

  • 4.0 star rating
    2/3/2008

    Good food, great sangria, and despite the waitress snubbing me, quick service. Try it.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/9/2008

    Decent tapas, respectable prices, and big pitchers of sangria.  Great place to bring a group of friends and have a little taste of everything on the menu.  I've been here a handful of times now and each time has been as good as the last.

  • 4.0 star rating
    12/26/2007

    One of my favorite tapas restaurants in Chi-town. Favorites of mine include the ensalada rusa, the caldo gallego, tortilla espanola, patatas alioli, patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and the chorizo & morcilla. I'm also a big fan of the sangria. The prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is relaxed yet trendy. Love this place.

  • 4.0 star rating
    4/19/2008

    I really like this place. I've been here twice, once with a group of friends, and once for a date. The atmosphere is loud, boisterous, fun, and casual. The tapas are pretty tasty--not as good as I had in Barcelona, but still good. I liked the croquetas a lot, and the seafood paella was good (I don't usually like paella, so this was a bonus!). Both the red and white sangrias are tasty, though I prefer the red. Wish they would do the patatas bravas with the spicy red sauce AND the garlic aioli in one plate, but oh well! Still a fun place, and very reasonable prices.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/23/2007

    This restaurant is a hidden treasure.  If you don't know it's there, you won't know it's there.  The food is absolutely delicious.  I have tried many dishes (paella, garlic shrimp, salmon, crab cakes, tilapia and the list goes on!) The sangria is awesome as well.  It is best to go early otherwise the crowd is overwhelming.

  • 5.0 star rating
    12/15/2009

    i love this restaurant i definely  recomended  evreting we order was delicioso!!   cant wait to go back :)

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/22/2007

    The food is authentic, there's plenty of choice and it's cheap - what more could you ask? The white wine sangria's a great choice and the desserts are also delicious. While the paellas are good, they're not amazing. I prefer the hot and cold tapas over the entrees here. Beware of crowds and long waits on weekends (no reservations). It also gets pretty loud, and so don't go if you want a nice quiet evening.  Whenever I've gone earlier in the evening, seating hasn't been a problem. Service in general is friendly, though when it gets really crowded the waitstaff get a little harried.

  • 2.0 star rating
    1/5/2008

    The thing that beats me is how such a sub-standard tapas bar in such a great neighborhood can get such rave reviews . Stepping in after work on a Fri night, we thought we lucked out when we jostled past the crowd and got a table quite quickly. It seemed like almost every type of tapas we ordered came with a colored variation of the same, dry, crusty toasted bread. Luckily the Patatas Bravas was predictably good but hey I could whip that up if I had to! I think the rest of my group was better served with the sausage and chicken dishes but the Queso de cabra (goat cheese) and Tostada de Pisto that I asked for, hardly had me hooked.
    The silver lining was that the dinner was CHEAP - heck, I spend more on my morning nourishments sometimes than I spent on my alcohol free dinner that night (thanks to us being sufficiently inebriated with pre-dinner happy hour treats :) ).  
    Sober or not, my 2 cents, if you can afford it, spend your $$ elsewhere for better spanish food.

    5/20/2011

    Clearly, I don't read my own reviews...got conned into going back to Iberico yet again and ordered the same vegetarian tapas with the same results - yikes! A couple of new attempts that turned out to be good choices  - white wine sangria and a customized spanish omelette which arrived way too late to do justice that night  but tasted rather good even the next morning!
    Dislike the noise level, dislike the rather ordinary fare, pity the folks that get stuck at the tables hardly a few inches away from the womens restroom (awful planning really), can't quite comprehend what draws the crowds here..but when I am feeling rather unimaginative and crave  some patatas bravas it's good to know Cafe Iberico is a stone's throw away...

  • 4.0 star rating
    11/6/2007

    The food is delicious-- I think I've tried almost everything (except shellfish) on the menu, and have not been disappointed once.  The sangria is good too.  My only complaint is the atmosphere-- I always feel a bit crowded.

  • 3.0 star rating
    4/27/2007
    1 check-in

    People really make this place seem so great when really there's better restaurants out there.  The really good thing that I liked a lot was the White Sangria.  There is no way that you can get 4 tapas and a pitcher for $25...  Most of the tapas were $5 and the pitchers were like $15.  Something like that.    I had this chicken that looked like an egg roll w/ some white sauce which tasted like someone chewed it up and then formed it into an eggroll.  Didn't like that too much, kind of grossed me out a little bit.  Then I tried the chicken meatballs which I actually liked.  It came in a bed of rice.  The one that I really liked was the sausages.  I ate those in seconds.  My friend had all kinds of dishes that I didn't try for the simple fact that I didn't care for the items such as shrimp and some spicy potatoes.  ouch.  He thought that they were really good.  Overall I think I'll stay at the bar and just have some Sangria...

  • 4.0 star rating
    5/13/2008

    I have to give this a higher score for being the most authentic of the now ubiquitous "Tapas bars" I've tried in the city.  Tapas bars are not supposed to be swanky, sit down restaurants with high priced dishes (though some places can pull it off).  I would have to agree that it gets a bit crowded and hard to get a seat -- oh, and my parents weren't feeling the softcore porn music videos when I brought them -- but my overall impression is still favorable.

  • 4.0 star rating
    3/12/2007

    Lots of hype, but the place delivers. Pitches of sangria straight from the trash can are a respectable $12.95. There are a lot of tapas to keep you busy for around $5 a pop. While I can't say the food was the best I've ever eaten, but its nice to be able to try so many different things without breaking the bank.

  • 5.0 star rating
    5/8/2009

    This is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. It is the shit. The service is so awesome, the food is so awesome, the sangria is so awesome, and the atmosphere is so awesome. It's just so much fun!! I've never had a bad time there. The goat cheese bread is the best, and I also love the ensalada russa. The tomato bread is good too. They recently opened up another restaurant upstairs for even more room. And it's really pretty up there-open air! But I haven't tried the food, so I don't know.

  • 4.0 star rating
    9/22/2007
    Listed in My Latin Loves

    If I had to limit myself to one tapas entree (but multiple orders), it would be their patatas ali-oli.  Iberico's version is my gold standard.

  • 4.0 star rating
    1/4/2007

    Iberico is one of my favorite restaurants. The tapas are so yummy and inexpensive and the sangrias are always a delight. Only problem is that they are so popular that's it's alway crowded on weekends. Nevertheless, the wait is always worth the wait.

  • 2.0 star rating
    4/7/2007

    I was a bit bummed with the tapas here. There wasn't anything that really wowed me. The most delicious dish I had was the stuff quail. The rice they served with it was tasty. The chicken and beef skewers were dry and a bit tasteless. The lamb shank wasn't bad but I wouldn't recommend it. The burnt sausages were nothing special. It tasted like spam and slim jims(but since i love spam, it was good). The shrimp tapa we had was plain and drenched in oil. They didn't even take the vein out. Another problem with the tapas was that they came out luke warm and I'm really picky about the temperature of my food. The waiter was nice and helpful throughout our lunch but I felt like the restaurant was a bit understaffed. For dessert, we had the poached pear and sauteed banana. It was good, although once again nothing special.The presentation could definetly go for some improvement. I would come back and give the other tapas a try. Every place deserves a second chance...
    ps. I found it strange that they had pictures of food on their menus that they didn't actually serve.

  • 5.0 star rating
    10/12/2006

    Great Place to take people for the first time!  The Sangria is great and the Tapas are cheap and great!

  • 5.0 star rating
    11/23/2007
    Listed in Top Restaurants

    This is one of the places I take out-of-town guests for the food, lively atmosphere, delicious sangria and reasonable prices. I've tried tapas at quite a few other places in the city but nothing compares to Iberico, plate for plate. Though it's always crowded, you usually don't have to wait more than a few minutes and the large bar makes it painless. Best to go with a huge group because then you can sample more dishes. One of my favorites in Chicago!

  • 5.0 star rating
    1/21/2007

    As far as tapas restaurants go, this is the most authentic I've found in Chicago..and I've been to most of them. The patatas bravas and other items are almost identical to those I've had in Spain. And the sangria is excellent. Just go early, or be prepared for a very long wait...and the later it gets the louder the patrons tend to be. I prefer it for lunch or as a place to get a meal right after work. Asshole yuppies tend to swoop in after about 7 pm. An added bonus is that it's cheap. Really cheap. I have never paid more than $20 per person for a meal there, and honestly it's usually more like $15 (keep in mind that this includes drinks). It's a great place, with extremely efficient service and absolutely fantastic food.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/16/2008

    There food here is awesome, everything I have ever eaten here I love.  The sangria is  good, and there are different types.  You can not make reservations so be prepared for a wait on the weekend.  It is very loud so do not plan to have serious conversation.  You can call in an order for pick up if you are craving something they make.

  • 5.0 star rating
    2/12/2007

    This is my favorite restaurant in Chicago.  I've been to several Spanish tapas places and this one is the most authentic and has the best food.  Get the chicken croquettes and the chorizo/morcilla.  It's reasonably priced for the city and the waitresses there are gorgeous.  The only problem some people might have with it is that it can get fairly crowded on the weekends but it's not like Sangria, which jams people in like frickin sardines.

  • 3.0 star rating
    3/15/2007

    Eh.  I have to say that I was a tad disappointed with Cafe Iberico.  I had heard a lot about it and while it wasn't a bad experience, it really didn't live up to the hype.  The drinks were okay, and the food was pretty good, but the service and the overall atmosphere of the cafe didn't really do it for me.  I  might have to give this place another try, maybe when it's not so crowded.

Café Iberico - 568 Photos - Spanish - Near North Side - Chicago, IL - Reviews - Yelp
 
Map
Edit

Recommended Reviews

Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more.